Eastchester Dad of Teen Driver in Fatal Poconos Crash Expected To Plead Guilty: Report

Written by KARA SEYMOUR (Patch Staff)

Michael Ware’s Tuesday hearing in Wayne County was cancelled, officials there confirmed, and he is reportedly planning on pleading guilty to charges in connection with the car accident deaths of three Council Rock teens.

Ware, of Eastchester, allegedly allowed his unlicensed teen daughter to drive his SUV, which crashed, killing three Council Rock South High School students last Labor Day weekend in the Poconos.

He was expected to ask a judge to dismiss charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment during a Tuesday hearing in Wayne County Court. Officials there confirmed the hearing was cancelled. Ware is now expected to plead guilty to the charges on July 9, the Bucks County Couier Times reported.

The charges have a maximum prison sentence of 21 years, the publication said.

Authorities allege Ware, the owner of a vacation home at Wallenpaupak Lake Estates, allowed his teen daughter, Julia, to drive his Chevrolet Suburban on Aug. 30. The SUV flipped over in a single-car crash, killing Cullen Keffer, Shamus Digney and Ryan Lesher, all incoming sophomores at Council Rock South.

He faces three counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of endangering the welfare of children, six counts of recklessly endangering another person, one count of false reports and one count of permitting an unauthorized person to drive.

Pennsylvania State Police said that Ware initially lied about giving his daughter, Julia, permission to drive the car, but authorities learned Ware allowed his daughter to drive his car before the accident.

In April, the Pleasantville teen pleaded guilty in Juvenile Court to seven charges, including three counts of felony homicide by vehicle and two misdemeanor counts of accidents involving death or injury as an unlicensed driver.

She was sentenced in May to indefinite probation and 300 hours of community service. She must also write a 2,000 word essay on the impact of the crash and pay more than $44,000 in restitution.

Julia Ware has not spoken to her father since the accident, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.