Jury returns guilty verdict for reckless manslaughter

A former Lampasas High School student originally charged with intoxicated manslaughter was found guilty in 27th District Court of reckless manslaughter. The verdict against Kory Porter was handed down by jurors late Wednesday night.

At press time Thursday afternoon, the jury was hearing testimony from witnesses, in conjunction with the punishment phase of the trial.

Porter was represented by Waco attorney Abel Reyna. Lampasas County Attorney Larry Allison prosecuted the case for the state.

Porter was on trial for the Feb. 24 death of Jordan Brittnie Evans, a 16-year-old LHS sophomore who resided in Kempner.

Charges stem from a one-vehicle accident about six-tenths of a mile south of U.S. Highway 190 in which Miss Evans was killed and four other students were injured.

Porter, 17, at the time of the accident, was a junior at LHS.

A report filed by the Texas Department of Public Safety at the time of the accident states that a 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup, driven by Porter, was northbound on FM 3170, traveling too fast to negotiate a left-hand curve in the roadway.

Porter's vehicle drifted off the east side of the road, and he overcorrected to the left and crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic. Porter then overcorrected to the right, and the pickup skidded down an embankment, where it struck a stock fence and a utility pole. The report states that the vehicle rolled and came to rest on its top.

Miss Evans was pronounced dead at the scene, while Porter and three other teens were transported to various medical facilities for treatment.