Judge: Suspect In 2009 Triple-Fatal Wreck In Sand Springs Can Be Charged Again

A judge ruled prosecutors can move forward with first-degree manslaughter charges against a man accused of killing three members of a family on Christmas Eve of 2009.

Prosecutors want to try Steven Wade Jameson for the wreck that killed Michael and Angela Mulanax and their son James.

Prosecutors said Jameson was driving 70 miles an hour on Highway 51 west of Sand Springs in a blizzard when his Hummer hit the Mulanax family's car. Prosecutors said Jameson did not have a valid license and had marijuana in his system the night of the crash.

Jameson pleaded guilty and a judge sentenced him to 24 years in prison. In January of 2016, a judge vacated Jameson's manslaughter conviction and freed him.

The Oklahoma State Court of Criminal Appeals overturned that decision last summer and he went back to prison.

10/15/2015 Related Story: Oklahoma Appeals Court Overturns Prison Release Of Man Who Killed Family In 2009 Crash

During a hearing on January 27, 2017, a judge ruled Jameson had received poor advice from his attorney who he said told him he had no defense, which he said led him to plead guilty. In that hearing, the judge granted Jameson's request to withdraw his guilty plea and ordered Jameson to stand trial in the case.

On Wednesday, May 31, 2017, a judge denied the defense's request to throw out the whole case and granted the prosecution's motion to try him on three counts of first-degree manslaughter as well as one count of driving under the influence of marijuana.

The judge did dismiss on charge - driving without a driver's license - saying another county made a mistake taking his license away in the first place.

Jameson's lawyer had hoped the judge would dismiss the other charges because the statue of limitations expired.

The victims' family said they're relieved.

"I was trying not to be pessimistic in coming back to court today, we've been here since 2009. My children have been dead eight years this December," said the victims’ grandmother, Linda Perkins. "All I want is for Mr. Jameson to take responsibility for what he caused when he got in that car."

Jameson's attorneys plan to appeal the ruling.