Reprinted with permission.
News, Page 3B
Feb. 18, 2012
Former hockey player gets jail time in bike death
By Pamela Powers
Menomonie News Bureau
MENOMONIE — A former UW-Stout hockey recruit said in Dunn County Court Friday he thinks
daily about a September 2010 bicycle crash that killed 22-year-old Bradley L. Simon.
"I wish I wasn't there," said Jedidiah R. McGlasson, 22, of Winona, Minn., to Simon's parents, Phil
and Kathy Simon, during his sentencing hearing. "I feel sorry you lost your son. It's awful."
McGlasson and fellow UW-Stout hockey teammate Jared C. Britton were charged with causing
Bradley Simon's death after they chased Simon, who was fleeing them on a bike Sept. 18, 2010 in
downtown Menomonie after an altercation at the Log Jam tavern. Simon crashed on the bike and
struck his head on a concrete structure. Eyewitnesses said they saw either McGlasson or Britton push
the bicycle, and it remains uncertain who caused the accident.
Simon died of a traumatic brain injury Sept. 23, 2010.
McGlasson was sentenced to 90 days in jail, one year of probation and fined $243 on a misdemeanor
charge of disorderly conduct. He also was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and must take
part in restorative justice sessions with Simon's parents. If he completes the community service and
restorative justice by the end of November, Simon's jail sentence would be reduced to 30 days. Jail
time must be served in Dunn County.
As part of the plea agreement, charges of felony murder and party to the crime of felony battery
against McGlasson were dismissed.
"Mr. McGlasson, there is no doubt in my mind you were responsible for that incident," said Judge
Rod Smeltzer, adding he believes co-defendant Jared C. Britton, who was acquitted at trial in July of
all charges, also was responsible. "Deep down in your heart you have to assume responsibility for
what happened and be the best person you can be."
Dunn County District Attorney James Peterson said the case is among the most difficult he has tried in
his career.
Reprinted with permission.
"When you combine alcohol and aggressiveness, fist fights and skirmishes, even if there is no intent or
no weapon involved, the danger of injury is always there," Peterson said. "It is just a really, really
tragic case."
Kathy Simon wiped tears from her eyes and showed a picture of her deceased son in the hospital while
he was on life support.
"My heart aches every minute of every single day," she said to McGlasson. "Can you even imagine
what you've put my family through?"
Friday's sentencing doesn't mark the end of the case. McGlasson and Britton face a civil lawsuit filed
by the Simon family.
"This is a good young man whose life has been turned upside down," said McGlasson's attorney, Eric
Newmark. "He is extremely remorseful about this."
Powers can be reached at 715-556-9018 or [email protected].