By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WILMINGTON - Through much of Friday's 90-minute hearing in Clinton County Juvenile Court, the Loveland teen accused of causing a crash that killed four Goshen High School students kept his head bowed, periodically pressing his fingers into his eyes to hold back tears.

He sat quietly, listening as relatives of the dead teens questioned his remorse and recounted how they have been affected by his decision to jerk the steering wheel of a fast-traveling car packed with teen-agers.

He didn't move even when his own attorney called his actions "overwhelmingly foolish" and agreed that his 18-year-old client deserved to be punished.

But the teen's control cracked as he turned and faced the courtroom packed with grieving people Friday, and publicly apologized for the first time since the Aug. 12, 2002, crash.

"I do think about the other kids," he said, attempting to make eye contact with those in the courtroom.

Tears flowed down his face, and his voice cracked. "I cry every night before I go to sleep. I can't change what happened. ... I am sorry," he said.

Clinton County Juvenile Judge G. Allen Gano said he believed the teen had no intention of killing anyone.

However, he added: "The recklessness of your actions resulted in the deaths of four people. ... You need to be accountable and today you will be punished."

The teen was ordered to serve an indefinite term of six months to three years - when he'll turn 21 - in juvenile detention. Last month he was convicted of four counts of reckless homicide for causing the crash that killed Jennifer McRoberts, 16; Jessie King, 16; Natasha Schnelle, 17; and Lester Smith, 16.

E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com