SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) – A Shawano County man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for an accident that took the lives of three Shawano County teens in 2014.
20-year old Ryan Swadner, who was 17 at the time of the crash, was also sentenced to 30 years of supervised release to follow his prison sentence.
Judge William Kuessel sentenced Swadner to a prison term for each of the victims.
A 4-year sentence was handed down for the death of 17-year old Shawano High School student Cody Borsch. A 5-year sentence was issued for the death of 18-year old Shawano High School student Tyler Welch and 6-year sentence was for the death of 15-year old Bonduel High School student Paige Brunette. District Attoney Greg Parker said that had to do with the circumstance and her age.
“He believed that there needed to be more time because of how young she was and the fact that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Judge Kuessel ordered that the sentences run consecutive to one another.
Parker said the investigation was unable to find a reason for Brunette and Brosch being in the vehicle, as text messages indicated that Swadner and Welch were in the process of a drug delivery.
Swadner was operating the vehicle at the time of the fatal crash and was accused of driving under the influence of illegal drugs.
Police reports also indicated that Swadner was driving at a high rate of speed at the time of crash.
Swadner pleaded No Contest to three counts of Homicide By Vehicle by Use of a Restricted Controlled Substance in the deaths of three teens in October 2014. Swadner also plead No Contest to Causing Injury by Operating a Motor Vehicle by use of a restricted controlled substance. Two other counts were dismissed and read in for Possession with Intent to Deliver THC and Keeping a Drug Trafficking Place.
In court on Wednesday, family members of the victims spoke out against Swadner’s actions, and explained how that day has changed their family. Swadner also offered a short appology.
Parker said he argued for a longer prison sentence.
“There were no winners here” Parker said. “A young man is going to prison and three young teens died as a result. I think justice was served today for the victim’s families.”
Parker said this case shows a worst possible outcome of what driving under the influence of illegal drugs can do.
“This is becoming more common. Drugged driving is serious, and in my opinion, it is just as serious as drunk driving.”
Before sentencing, Swadner’s Attorney Nila Robinson Swadner’s filed for adjornment to get psychological evaluation results for her client, but that was denied by the judge since it was not a critical part of the sentencing.
“The defense attorney filed a motion because they felt that probation agent did not use the proper method for conducting the pre-sentence investigation” Parker said.
Attorney Parker said that would have been the third delay in the case.
The case has been ongoing for over three years, and has gotten quite a bit of attention. District Attorney Greg Parker said those in attendance were checked with a wand before they were able to enter the courtroom.
” We don’t know who is all going to show up and sometimes a people from the public show up as well.”
Parker said the security was ordered to protect everyone in the courtroom.
“Under the circumstances today, it was the victim’s family that made up most of the court room and then there were people there from the defendants family as well.”
Shawano County has been looking into purchasing stronger security equipment for the two courtrooms.
