Suspect In Crash That Killed Fetus Offered Plea Deal

Lage Was Fleeing From Trooper When He Crashed Into Pregnant Woman

Logan-Lage-Mesa-County-Chase-Guy-14583800.jpg

Posted: 06/05/2009
Last Updated: 1450 days ago

Prosecutors have offered a plea agreement to a man accused of causing a deadly crash while fleeing from a state trooper in Mesa County.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Tammy Eret said Thursday that a deal had been offered to 25-year-old Logan Lage. She declined to discuss the specific terms, but said the proposed agreement calls for Lage to plead guilty to at least one charge stemming from the death of Lileigh Lehnen.

Lage is accused of driving a Jeep head-on into a vehicle driven by then-26-year-old Shea Lehnen in November. She was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time.

Lehnen was rushed to a hospital where doctors delivered her baby by emergency Cesarean section. The girl died a short time later.

Prosecutors initially tried to charge Lehnen with murder but a court ruled that the 8 1/2-month-old fetus who died was not a "person" under state murder laws. The Colorado Court of Appeals last month later upheld that ruling, saying "While here the child was alive at the time of defendant's alleged criminal acts, she had not been born."

A "person" in Colorado murder statutes is defined as a human being who had been born and was alive at the time of the homicidal act.

Lage's attorney said he's discussing the plea offer with his client.

Lage is facing felony charges of child abuse resulting in death, vehicular eluding, careless driving causing death, and vehicular assault while driving under the influence.

Copyright Copyright 2009 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


Report a typo or inaccuracy

If you have a news tip or a follow-up to this story, e-mail us.

Trending Now