Shafter teacher refuses plea deal

Local teacher Candie Springer may be going to trial after a plea deal could not be reached at a status hearing earlier this month. Springer faces a felony charge and a misdemeanor of allowing an unlicensed person to drive.

She refused to accept a deal that would have her plead guilty to the felony charge, her attorney, David Torres, said outside Bakersfield Municipal Court on Friday. Judge Michael G. Bush confirmed a preliminary hearing will take place July 16.

Last year, Springer let her son take her car for what she thought would be a quick trip to the market.

Jace Springer instead picked up friends, sped on city streets and led police on a chase that ended with the car crashing into a tree. A passenger died. He accepted a plea agreement in juvenile court on charges including vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and received 200 hours of community service and probation.