Leader Staff
The teenage driver in the October crash that claimed the lives of his three young passengers pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of vehicular and reckless homicide at his arraignment Monday in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court.
Ryan M. Swadner, 18, of Cecil, is accused of being under the influence of marijuana Oct. 21 when he swerved to avoid another vehicle stopped in his path on state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine and lost control on a gravel shoulder.
The Ford Mustang he was driving crossed into the path of an oncoming sport utility vehicle and was hit broadside, according to the accident report.
Two Shawano Community High School seniors, 17-year-old Cody Borsche and 18-year-old Tyler Welch, were pronounced dead at the scene. A Bonduel High School sophomore, 15-year-old Paige Brunette, was transported to Shawano Medical Center for medical attention and later died.
Swadner is free on a $10,000 cash bond. The next court date will be scheduled as a telephone conference on Oct. 13.
Swadner is charged with three counts of homicide by use of a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance and three counts of second-degree reckless homicide. Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
He is also charged with felony counts of possession with intent to deliver marijuana and maintaining a drug trafficking place in reference to the vehicle being used to traffic marijuana. The charges each carry a maximum 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Swadner is also facing misdemeanor counts of causing injury while under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.