Teen ticketed again for driving without license

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By LORI PILGER / Lincoln Journal Star

A day after being ticketed on suspicion of manslaughter in the death of a teenage passenger in his car, a 17-year-old was back behind a wheel, police say.

And they say Ricky E. Turco, of 1411 E St., still doesn’t have a driver’s license.

Police recognized the teenager at the wheel of a brown 1990 Buick at 10:57 a.m. Tuesday on E Street between 15th and 16th streets and stopped him, according to Assistant Chief Jim Peschong.

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Ricky Turco

Ricky Turco

And they ticketed him again — less than 24 hours after ticketing him on suspicion of manslaughter for the March 26 crash.

Megan Churchill, a 15-year-old freshman at Lincoln High who was a passenger in the car, died from her injuries.

The car Turco was driving March 26 was his and his wife’s and it was totaled in the accident.

Peschong said the Buick he was driving Tuesday is registered to another man. To ticket the car’s owner for anything, police would have to prove he let Turco drive his car knowing he didn’t have a license, he said.

Peschong said a lot of the officers now are aware of Turco and know he shouldn’t be driving. And they may be trying to make sure he isn’t.

On Tuesday, police didn’t arrest him on the Class 3 misdemeanor — punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine if he’s convicted — but that could happen if he keeps driving, he said.

“Obviously we don’t want him driving if he doesn’t have a license.”

Though, arresting people on the charge isn’t typically done because on offenses like this they could post bond when they get there and walk out the door.

But, Peschong said, at Turco’s court appearance Friday, the judge may be asked to set special conditions on a bond. Violating certain provisions, such as not driving, could lead to contempt of court or bond revocation.

“I think there are some plans to try to go down that road ... to ensure that he isn’t out there violating the law,” he said.

And there may be consequences in the courtroom if Turco keeps driving without a license, he said.

“I have a feeling that he’ll be far worse off if he continues to do this,” Peschong said.

Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.