Jimmy Dean Landis pleads guilty to crimes in tequila-fueled crash that left his daughter paraplegic

Jimmy Dean Landis was set to go to trial next week on nine criminal charges linked to the tequila-fueled drunken driving crash last Father's Day that left his daughter a paraplegic.

Instead, a subdued-looking Landis pleaded guilty to all nine counts late Wednesday afternoon in Shawnee County District Court.

Landis admitted in his plea agreement that blood test results showed he had an alcohol level of 0.21%, nearly three times the legal limit, after the crash occurred June 20, 2021.

Landis' daughter, Zoey Landis — who was 6 years old at the time — was left unable to walk and isn't expected to regain that ability, the agreement said.

It said that prior to the crash, Landis had consumed a significant amount of tequila at the home of his significant other.

Landis had previously been convicted twice of driving on a suspended license and three times of driving under the influence, the agreement added.

Landis pleaded guilty Wednesday before Shawnee County District Judge Steve Ebberts to the following:

• A felony count of aggravated battery while driving under the influence causing great bodily harm or disfigurement, with the victim being Zoey Landis.

• A felony count of aggravated battery while DUI causing bodily harm, with the victim being Jimmy Landis' son, Zackory Landis.

• Two felony counts of aggravated child endangerment, with the victims being Zoey Landis and Zackory Landis.

• A felony count of DUI by someone who has at least three past DUI convictions.

• A felony count of interference with a law enforcement officer, committed as Landis interacted with Shawnee County sheriff's officers after the crash.

• A misdemeanor count of attempted battery to a law enforcement officer, committed when Landis unsuccessfully tried to kick or strike at a deputy with his knee at a hospital after the crash.

• A misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license by someone who has at least two past convictions for that crime.

• And a child passenger safety infraction.

Landis' sentencing was set for 3 p.m. April 15.

Ebberts, who will be the sentencing judge, said the maximum potential sentence for the most serious crime to which Landis pleaded guilty was 11 years, four months in prison.

He noted that prosecutors intend to seek an upward departure on that count. That could result in that sentence being as long as 22 years, eight months.

Ebberts said his options as sentencing judge will include arranging for Landis' sentences to run consecutively, to run at the same time, or a combination of those.

No members of Landis' family were present for Wednesday's plea hearing.

Zoey Landis, who still has movement in her upper arms, and her brother, Zackory Landis, who was then 5 years old, were hurt late June 20 in the crash of a vehicle driven by their father, Jimmy Landis, in the 5100 block of S.W. Burlingame Road.

Zackory Landis and Zoey Landis don't live with Jimmy Landis but were spending time with him for Father's Day on June 20.

Jimmy Landis was driving a car in which they were passengers when it left the roadway and struck a tree, said Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay.

Zackory Landis was admitted to a Topeka hospital, then released two days later.

Zoey Landis was hospitalized for several months, said Assistant Shawnee County District Attorney Will Manly, who prosecuted the case against Jimmy Landis.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Dad pleads guilty to crimes in DUI crash that left daughter paraplegic