Woman pleads guilty to homicide

A Juneau woman pled guilty Wednesday to a charge of criminally negligent homicide in the Aug. 31, 2005, traffic death of University of Alaska Southeast college student Jody Watson.

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Stephanie Smathers was a passenger in a Plymouth van that crossed the center line of Glacier Highway and collided head-on with Watson's Dodge Neon at the Brotherhood Bridge in the Mendenhall Valley. Smathers was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with the driver, David Alex, when he lost control of the van.

Judge Patricia Collins set sentencing for 8:15 a.m. March 27.

Smathers originally faced a charge of manslaughter, a Class A felony with a sentence range between five and eight years. Criminally negligent homicide is a Class B felony, with a range between three and five years.

Watson, a UAS student and employee, was a senior in the liberal arts program and was scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2006. She had worked late at the UAS bookstore on the day of the accident and was driving inbound on Glacier Highway toward town.

Alex and Smathers were driving outbound on Glacier Highway. The passenger-seat door in the van didn't work, and Smathers was sitting in a bench seat behind Alex, said Smathers' attorney Tom Nave.

Smathers was allegedly arguing with Alex, her "on-again, off-again" boyfriend, Nave said. She was trying to persuade him to turn around the vehicle. She allegedly struck him in the right shoulder, and he allegedly responded by punching her in the face. At that point, the van crossed the center line, Nave said.

Smathers stood, fidgeted briefly with her right hand and answered "guilty" when asked for her plea to the charge of criminally negligent homicide.

Alex is scheduled for trial in late February on a manslaughter charge. Public defender David Sikes will represent him. There is no indication how Alex will plead, Nave said. Smathers has agreed to testify if called upon.

Smathers is expected to return today to a treatment program in California for unspecified disabilities, her attorney said.

Diane Souron, Watson's mother, listened to the proceedings by phone hookup from her home in Aberdeen, Wash.