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Dain Schneider, of 6977 Owasco Road, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three felonies — , aggravated DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle — and reckless driving, a misdemeanor.Ìý

In court, the 33-year-old told Judge Thomas Leone that he "caused the death of (18-year-old) Chloe Calhoun" when he drunkenly crashed into her car on East Lake Road the night of July 27.Ìý

"I went to the bar and I had several alcoholic beverages," he said. "I left to go to my home and I crashed into the car in front of me." 

The investigation showed that Schneider — who had two previous DWI convictions and was driving with a suspended license at the time of the crash — had a blood alcohol content of .23 percent and was driving 99 mph when he hit Calhoun's car.Ìý

Calhoun had pulled out of the parking lot at the Tom Thumb Drive-In in Owasco at about 9:41 p.m. when her vehicle was struck. She died later that night at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.

"The event data recorder showed that he never slowed down until he hit Chloe square in the back of her vehicle," Cayuga County Assistant District Attorney Diane Adsit said. "There was no way that he could have stopped at that speed and there was no way she could have known he was coming at that speed."

According to Adsit, the District Attorney's Office offered a slightly reduced sentence in exchange for the plea. While Schneider could face a maximum of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, Adsit said the victim's family agreed to a sentence of 7 to 24 years of incarceration plus 5 years post-release supervision.Ìý

"Having to hear the details and go through a trial and keep reliving it ... Chloe's family would be traumatized by that," Adsit said. "I think they're glad that this part of it is over with."

Schneider's defense attorney, David Elkovitch, agreed.Ìý

"This is the best for everyone concerned," he said. "There was no defense so we just tried to get it over with as quickly as possible."

Elkovitch added that Schneider never denied his responsibility in the crash, waiving his right to appeal.Ìý

"I basically told him when I first met him that I have four children and if he killed one of mine I'd want him to rot in prison forever," Elkovitch said. "And (Schneider) said, 'Well I have three kids and I would feel the same way.'"

Schneider will be sentenced in criminal court Oct. 18.Ìý