Thomas Stambaugh accepted a plea agreement Monday in the St. Joseph County 45th Circuit Court Monday for the hit-and-run killing of Laura Jacobs. Early in the afternoon on June 18, 2020, in the Three Rivers Meijer parking lot, Stambaugh struck and killed Jacobs in his vehicle. Jacobs was 62 at the time and had been working at the Three Rivers Applebee’s restaurant. She had previously worked at Harding’s Super Market.
At the time of the incident, Stambaugh was operating the vehicle despite never having been issued a driver’s license, according to his defense attorney, David Marvin.
On Monday, Acting Prosecutor Joshua Robare said Stambaugh faced charges on two criminal counts. Count One was a charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident when at fault, resulting in death, Count Two was a charge of driving on a suspended, denied, or revoked license resulting in death. Under the deal, Stambaugh could choose to plead guilty to either charge. In doing so, Acting Prosecutor Joshua Robare said the other charge would be dropped.
Both charges carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Stambaugh chose to plead guilty on Count Two, the license-related charge, which also includes forfeiture or immobilization of Stambaugh’s vehicle. Stambaugh has three prior felony convictions, and because the June 18 crime was his fourth habitual felony, he may face a sentence in the maximum end of the penalty range.
By pleading guilty, Stambaugh forfeited his right to a jury trial, as well as his right to have an appeal without applying for the court’s permission. Judge Paul Stutesman set Stambaugh’s sentencing hearing for November 13.
Dave Vago is a writer and columnist for Watershed Voice. A Philadelphia native with roots in Three Rivers, Vago is a planning consultant to history and community development organizations and is the former Executive Director of the Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program.
