Deal allows drunken driver to avoid murder conviction in varsity football coach's death
A Huntington Woods woman, who authorities said killed a beloved Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood head football coach two years ago in a Pleasant Ridge drunk driving collision, was sentenced Thursday to 10-15 years in prison on a deal with the prosecution.
Wendy Bass had a blood alcohol content of .28 percent, more than three times the legal limit, and was charged with second-degree murder, which carries a maximum punishment upon conviction of life imprisonment, according to police.
But that was pleaded down to drunken driving causing death and reckless driving causing death.
In August, the Oakland Press reported on the plea deal, noting that Bass is "supported by royalties from her former husband, Mark Bass, one of the Bass Brothers who won Grammy Awards for their producing work with rap star Eminem."
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The Free Press left a message with the Oakland County Prosecutor's office seeking comment about the plea deal.
Bass, who was driving a Mercedes-Benz on Woodward Avenue, reportedly rear-ended the Jeep Cherokee that the coach, Ben Jones, 30, was driving, setting off a chain reaction. The Jeep slammed into another vehicle, and that car hit the fourth one. She was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
A Pleasant Ridge police officer and two bystanders pulled Jones, who lived in Royal Oak, from his Jeep.
Jones was taken to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police concluded Bass was driving at about 65-72 miles per hour, police said.
Many across the state were deeply moved by the coach's death. Jones was celebrated by family, friends, players, and teammates. He played football at Muskegon Catholic Central, a two-time state championship team, and Hillsdale College, a small liberal arts school.
It is not unusual for prosecutors to agree to lesser charges for a guilty plea.
In Washtenaw County, for example, prosecutors agreed earlier this month to allow 18-year-old college basketball star Emoni Bates to dismiss felony gun charges after a police stop in exchange for a pleading guilty to a misdemeanor.
And in Wayne County, serial killer Deangelo Martin pleaded guilty in a deal in September, days before the 37-year-old was set to go to trial for the slayings of four women and the sexual assaults of two more, agreeing to a sentencing of 45-70 years in prison.
David Moss, who is representing Jones’ family in a wrongful death lawsuit against Bass, said in a statement last year said that in addition to being a coach, Jones was a financial planner and portfolio manager with Schwartz & Co. Investment Advisors.
"All too often the truly wonderful individuals are taken far too early," Moss added. "Ben Jones was one such individual."
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Driver cuts deal to avoid trial, murder conviction in coach's death
