Randall J. Rolison

MAYVILLE — Randall Rolison, the 60-year-old Jamestown man tied to two fatal crashes in Chautauqua County, pleaded guilty to charges Friday in Chautauqua County Court.

The pleas, entered before County Court Judge David Foley, bring to a close separate cases that drew outrage from the community and an outpouring of support to two families impacted by avoidable accidents almost a year apart.

Jason Schmidt, Chautauqua County district attorney, said Rolison pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the Dec. 31, 2021, death of Alexis Hughan and to aggravated vehicular homicide for the Dec. 3, 2022, death of Linda Kraemer.

Hughan was 15 years old and a 10th grader at Jamestown High School when she died. Kraemer was 71.

As part of the pleas, Schmidt agreed to drop weapons possession charges in a third case that was set to go to trial this month in County Court.

In May, Rolison had rejected the same plea deal after discussing options with his attorney, Public Defender Ned Barone. Rolison was in court Friday to enter the guilty pleas.

Rolison faces up to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and up to 25 years on the aggravated vehicular homicide charge. The sentences will run consecutively, meaning he could receive up to 40 years in prison.

Sentencing is set for Aug. 28 in County Court.

Hughan was killed after she was struck by a semi operated by Rolison while walking across Sixth Street in Jamestown.

It was on Dec. 3, 2022, nearly a year after Hughan’s death, that Rolison was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Trail Blazer when he allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Route 83 and Center Road in Arkwright. The vehicle collided with a 2018 Ford F-150 resulting in the death of Kraemer, who was a 71-year-old passenger in the pickup truck. He also caused serious injuries to her 71-year-old husband who was driving.

Rolison had been out on bail following his arrest in Hughan’s fatality when the Arkwright crash occurred. He was hospitalized and after recovering, had his bail revoked and returned to the county jail, where he remains.

After being arrested for the Jamestown accident, police began investigating various aspects of Rolison’s life. They allegedly discovered Rolison had three illegal handguns in storage, so he was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Schmidt had been willing to drop the weapons charge if he pleaded guilty in the two deaths.