DA Files Manslaughter Charges Against Man Accused of Killing Child

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY – A man accused of causing a deadly accident that killed a little boy and critically injured his sister was released from jail on bond Monday.

The Oklahoma County D.A. also filed a first-degree manslaughter charge against James Opp. David Prater said first-degree manslaughter and second-degree murder carry the same penalties but manslaughter is easier to prove.

Police say James Opp's truck slammed into a family's car earlier this month at Interstate 240 and Western Avenue.

Adam Stutts, 5, died on impact. His 3-year-old sister, Avery, is improving. She's now out of the hospital and in rehabilitation.

Opp bonded out of jail over the weekend. A social worker broke the news to the Stutts family. The boy's grandmother still can't believe it.

"The court is overlooking the fact that he killed Adam...and is letting him go free again," said Darbi Minor, Adam's grandmother.

Opp admitted to police he'd been drinking moonshine the night of the crash.

"He's still a threat. He's been a threat for years, you know it's well documented that he's admitted to extreme drug usage and abuse of alcohol," Minor said. "He deserves to be behind bars for what he's done. I won't judge him personally but he does have consequences to pay for taking the life of my grandchild and all that he's done to this family."

More on News9.com:
- 1 Child Killed, 1 Critically Injured in Southwest Oklahoma City Wreck
- New Details Released on Drunk Driver who Killed Child
- Man Charged With Driving Drunk and Killing 5-Year-Old Has Extensive Drug Past