Ottery convicted in Campbellsport crash

FOND DU LAC - A Campbellsport teenager has been convicted, in connection with the car crash that killed three of her friends.

18-year-old Carly Ottery pleaded "no contest" to three counts of homicide by negligent use of a vehicle.

This comes as part of a plea agreement with the prosecutor.

As the judge read each charge in the Fond du Lac County courtroom Friday, Carly Ottery quietly responded "no Contest" three times.

She is now convicted in the February 4th crash that killed three of her friends: Sabrina Stahl, Katie Berg and Caitin Scannel.

Special Prosecutor Christian Gossett told FOX 11 this is a difficult case.

"That's obvious by the fact we see so many people here and we see so much division and opinion on this," said Gossett.

The courtroom was crowded.  The victims' families were there.  So were plenty of people wearing "I Love Carly" buttons.

"We have a young woman who is, by all accounts a good person...no alcohol, no drugs and yet we have some pretty high speeds involved in that crash and obviously the tragic consequence of three children killed," said Gossett.

According to Gossett, Ottery was driving her SUV at more than 100 miles per hour when it crashed. 

• Click here to see photos of the community's response to the crash

Gossett said he had to walk a fine line in deciding on a plea agreement in this case.

"The decision, essentially, was that there had to be responsibility and accountability for what occurred, but that probation was probably a reasonable solution," said Gossett

As part of the plea agreement, Gossett said, he will recommend to the judge that Ottery serve 5 years probation.  He said that jail time would have been too harsh and that the probation is a good compromise.

"Part of our theory is that that's enough time for Ms. Ottery to get through college, she'll have to be on her best behavior and kind of prove to everybody she deserves the second chance," said Gossett.

Ultimately, it will be the judge who decides just what Ottery's punishment will be.

Gossett didn't want to talk about how the families felt about the plea deal.

Ottery's sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 5th.