Man Pleads Guilty in Bucks Officer's Death

Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009  |  Updated 5:00 PM EDT
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Man Pleads Guilty in Bucks Officer's Death

Frank Budka seen when he turned himself in.

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A suburban Philadelphia man admitted killing a police officer in a vehicle crash, but was awaiting a judge's decision on whether he was impaired by prescription drugs and marijuana.

Frank Budka, of Middletown, Pa. pleaded guilty to a dozen charges stemming from the Jan. 29 crash that killed Middletown Township police Officer Chris Jones.

Among the accusations Budka pleaded guilty to was a homicide by vehicle charge. But he went to trial this week on the impairment charge and awaited a judge's decision that was expected Thursday.

The 45-year-old Budka caused a crash that killed Jones as the 37-year-old father of three returned to his cruiser during a traffic stop.

Budka argued that he had only traces of marijuana in his system. But prosecutors said it impaired him when combined with methadone and a painkiller.

Posted Nov 11, 2009
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