Phillip Bridges stands with attorney Bob Carran in court. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        NEWPORT — Phillip Bridges will spend 20 weekends in jail and the next five years on probation after pleading guilty to second-degree manslaughter for hitting and killing 10-year-old Stephen Schroder with his car.

        But Carla Crabtree, a mother of two young boys who lives on the street where the death occurred, isn't satisfied with the plea decision or the message she thinks it sends.

        Mr. Bridges, 52, will be formally sentenced July 25 after entering the plea before Campbell Circuit Judge Leonard Kopowski on Monday.

        He was scheduled to go on trial Monday morning on the manslaughter charge.

Stephen Schroder

        Fort Thomas police said Mr. Bridges was driving his car on Garrison Avenue June 28, 2000, when he struck and killed Stephen as the boy was crossing the street. Police said Mr. Bridges was traveling in excess of the 25 mph posted speed limit.

        As a result of the boy's death and an outcry from residents of Garrison about drivers using the short, one-way street as a cut-through to River Road, police lowered the speed limit to 15 mph, installed speed humps on the street and placed signs at the top of the one-way street, where it meets South Fort Thomas Avenue, prohibiting through traffic.

        “People still use it as a cut-through, almost a year after Stephen was killed,” Ms. Crabtree said. “They just drive more slowly now because of the speed humps. We've had a number of confrontations with drivers who we know are using Garrison as a cut-through.”

        Ms. Crabtree said her problem with the plea agreement is her belief that “This is just a reinforcement of the apathy I've seen in the community since Stephen was

        killed. People seemed to forget very quickly. It's almost like saying "We know you're in a hurry, and accidents will happen.'”

        Campbell County Commonwealth Attorney Jack Porter recommended that Mr. Bridges:

        • Be placed on five years' probation and have his driver's license suspended for five years.

        • Serve 60 days in the Campbell County Detention Center, to be served on 20 weekends.

        • Wear an electronic monitoring device for home incarceration for 12 months when not serving active time on the weekends.

        • Pay a fine of $2,500 and surrender the 1987 Cadillac he was driving when he struck the boy, to be disposed of by the Fort Thomas Police Department. Any proceeds from the disposal of the car can be used by Mr. Bridges toward his fine.

        • Complete counseling with an emphasis on anger management.

        Mr. Bridges could have been sentenced to five to 10 years in prison if he had gone to trial and been convicted of the manslaughter charge.

        Stephen Schroder's mother, Kim Schroder Jackson, and father, Larry Schroder, signed the plea agreement.

        The boy's parents have declined to comment on the case.

        Mr. Bridges also declined to comment at the hearing Monday morning.

        Ms. Crabtree said a candlelight memorial for Stephen is planned on Garrison Avenue for June 28, the one-year anniversary of his death.

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