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Judge upholds conviction of man found guilty of crash that killed family of four

Hot Spring Judge Chris Williams denied Benjamin Ledwell's appeal Monday. In January, 12 jurors found Ledwell guilty of killing a Bismarck family while driving.

MALVERN, Ark. (KTHV) – A Texarkana man stood before a Hot Spring County judge hoping to get a negligent homicide conviction overturned.

But Hot Spring Judge Chris Williams denied Benjamin Ledwell’s appeal Monday. In January, 12 jurors found Ledwell guilty of killing a Bismarck family while driving.

On May 19, 2015, Ledwell was driving on Highway 7 when he crossed the center line and hit Cindy and Allen Rhein and their two adopted special needs sons. His truck hit the Rhein family's vehicle head on.

Judge Williams said the jurors had to decide if Ledwell negligently crossed the center line. After an emotional trial, they decided he did, finding him guilty of killing the family.

Ledwell’s attorney defended on Monday saying “driving over the center line is not a criminal act.” The defense also said Ledwell dropped something on the floor, causing him to bend down and pick it up while driving.

Court documents show State Police allege Ledwell tested positive for prescription drugs, and found other pills stuffed inside his sock after the accident. According to the documents, Ledwell said he had not taken any pills and that “his dentist had prescribed at least some of the medication.”

None of this information was used as evidence in court, however. In 2016, a forensic toxicologist said Ledwell’s blood sample was “insufficient for normal testing.”

On Dec. 12, 2017, Judge Williams ordered that “any evidence as to any prescription medications that were seized” not be used as evidence.

We spoke with Walter Rhein, the brother of the deceased, and he said he is happy the judge decided to stand with the jury’s decision.

"I think the judge sent a clear message here that you can't just come into this state, and kill four people and just completely walk on it, without any jail time or even a fine. At least the conviction stands,” Rhein said.

The jury suspended Ledwell’s one-year sentence, meaning he faces no jail time for his actions.

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