ROCKWELL CITY – The Pomeroy woman convicted of causing another driver’s death when she rear-ended his vehicle driving 70 miles per hour in a construction zone has avoided prison.

The accident led to the death of Eugene Zinnel, 78, of Manson.

Jewell R. Casey, 56, received a deferred judgement Friday during a hearing in Calhoun County District Court from Judge Adria Kester, who presided over Casey’s bench trial in October.

Kester told Casey that she knows the decision to give her a deferred judgement is “unpopular,” but she reached the decision after weighing the facts of the case, Casey’s criminal history and employment history, as well as comments from the attorneys and Casey’s age.

Full story in tomorrow’s Messenger