Published: May 18, 2008 01:45 am         

Trial scheduled in car versus daycare case

A Greenville man is facing trial starting this week for allegedly injuring several children and adults when he drove his car into a local daycare center more than two years ago.

Jury selection is scheduled Monday morning in the 196th District Court in the trial of Richard Leonor Whytus, who is facing eight counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, in connection with the incident in January 2006 in which he was accused of driving a Pontiac Firebird into the Wee Wisdom Play School.

Whytus had previously been indicted on four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and had pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors added a fifth count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against Whytus through an information complaint at the end of January, then obtained three additional indictments through the grand jury process in February.

The three newest indictments also indicate Whytus had a previous felony conviction for aggravated kidnapping on his record.

Whytus has been accused by the Greenville Police Department of being intoxicated when he drove the car into the southwest corner of the building in the 4100 block of Moulton on the afternoon of Jan. 30, 2006.

The indictments allege Whytus was under the influence of an intoxicating beverage, a controlled substance or both at the time of the crash. The charges likewise claim Whytus was driving “in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property”. The indictments also list the vehicle as a deadly weapon.

Whytus fled on foot after the crash, but was later apprehended by police officers.