Boca train death case set for hearing June 4

By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

The fate of a Boca Raton man accused of manslaughter in the train-crash death of his stepdaughter in 2005 may be determined at a June 4 hearing in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, according to a court ruling issued Thursday.

Scott Wynkoop, 43, was convicted last year of manslaughter in connection with the death of 9-year-old Samantha Rosales.  Boca Raton police accused Wynkoop of trying to beat a Florida East Coast Railway train to a crossing in the Hidden Valley section of the city.  The train slammed into the passenger side of the car, killing his daughter.

Based on a plea from his wife, Circuit Judge Lucy Chernow Brown sentenced Wynkoop to 10 years probation, but with a special condition that he serve the equivalent of 364 days in jail by going to prison on weekends.

Reports say Wynkoop was allegedly drunk when he showed up recently for one of his weekend stays in the jail.  The case is now going back to court to determine if he violating the conditions of sentencing.

Judge Brown has set a two-hour hearing for 9:15 a.m. June 4, documents say.  She said she wants to make sure she has jurisdiction in the case.

Wynkoop is appealing his 2007 manslaughter conviction.