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Michael Bearty, 27 (Booking photo from Berrien County Jail) (December 19, 2012) |
27-year-old Anthony Bearty appeared in Berrien County court on Wednesday.
Police say Bearty did not have a valid driver's license when he ignored train signals, went over the tracks on Kerlikowski Road near Coloma, and was struck by a train in November.
Bearty's 4-year-old daughter, Mikahlah, was in the car and suffered a serious broken leg. She is in a lower body cast.
Crystal Stakley, who's Mikahlah's mother, told WSBT her daughter is undergoing occupational therapy and is seeing a counselor for nightmares related to the accident.
Stakley says Mikahlah has a doctor's appointment on Thursday and may be able to get her cast off. The young girl has seen very little of her father since the crash.
Berrien County Prosecutor Art Cotter says Bearty will be sentenced in February. The charge carries a 5-year maximum prison sentence.
This is Bearty's second offense. He was convicted of driving with a suspended license last June as well.
