Jury finds Ronald Bevan guilty of involuntary manslaughter

A Sedgwick County jury has returned a guilty verdict on involuntary manslaughter for 30-year-old Ronald Bevan, who was accused of causing a wreck that took the life of Clearwater kindergartner Amber Randolph.   Bevan was also found guilty of aggravated battery and involuntary manslaughter while under the influence.  He was originally charged with 2nd degree murder, but the jury decided on a lesser charge.

Amber had been out on a "girls day out" with her mother, Michelle, on Feb. 12, 2010.  They had just seen a Justin Bieber movie and they ate lunch at McDonald's.  They were headed east on Kellogg, near Seneca, when a westbound pickup swerved, came in contact with a natural ramp of plowed snow, and flew over a concrete barrier.  Michelle Randolph stopped her Toyota in an attempt to avoid contact, but the truck crashed into them.

Prosecutors say Matthew Noel and Ronald Bevan had begun drinking at 9 a.m. that day, and were racing across town at a high rate of speed, and jockeying for position when Bevan cut off Noel, causing him to swerve.

Noel's first trial ended without a clear verdict.  He is scheduled for a retrial in February.  

Bevan's attorney, Gary Owens, argued his client did not show a clear disregard for the value of human life, which is required for a conviction of 2nd degree murder.  Owens also disputed whether Bevan was drunk at the time of the crash.  Bevan's blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.15 percent more than two hours after the crash, almost double the legal limit of .08 percent.