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MEIER PLEADS TO FELONY MURDER
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 -- 11:54 am
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
 An Eleva man’s decision to plead ‘no contest’ to a serious felony appears to be the best possible resolution to a terrible situation.
An emotional Tyler Meier entered the plea to a charge of felony murder-battery Tuesday morning. He could face 15 years and nine months behind bars.
In a show of emotion usually saved for sentencing hearings, Meier broke down several times this morning while admitting he landed the punch that caused 43-year-old Keith Young’s death.
Young and Meier were at the Brickyard Bar and Restaurant on February 1st. Meier punched Young, he fell, apparently hitting his head on the floor. He was hospitalized in critical condition from shortly after the assault, to the time of his death on February 3.
Under terms of the plea agreement, the $10,000 bond money will be held pending further court proceedings and then paid to Young’s widow, to cover medical bills. Meier was also facing charges for violating conditions of his bond, those charges are dismissed, but can be considered during sentencing.
District Attorney Darwin Zwieg agrees not to make a sentencing recommendation, but Young’s family members will be allowed to address the court. The Department of Justice will conduct a pre-sentence investigation.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 15th in front of Wood County Judge James Mason.
This is the first time anyone has been convicted of felony murder-battery in Clark County. The charge implies the defendant intended to harm the victim, and the victim died as a result. The state does not allege Meier intended to kill Mr. Young.
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