WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A motorist who had marijuana and cocaine in his system was convicted Thursday in connection with a fatal traffic crash.
A Winnebago County jury convicted Richard Gleason, 60, on Thursday of homicide by vehicle with use of a controlled substance.
Sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday. The maximum sentence is 40 years in the state prison system, with a minimum of five years initial confinement, unless the judge cites a “compelling reason” to issue a shorter term.
According to the criminal complaint, Gleason said he was driving on Clayton Avenue on Jan. 30, 2020, when another vehicle struck his trailer, dislodging it. The driver of the other vehicle was killed.
“Richard stated he was on his way to go get a skid steer with an empty trailer, at which time he saw a vehicle approaching him and had struck the trailer causing the trailer to become unhitched on his vehicle,” the complaint states.
But according to testimony at trial, Gleason hit a divot in the road, and the trailer – which wasn’t secured properly – was dislodged and struck the other vehicle, according to the district attorney’s office.
Police had a sample of Gleason’s blood taken, which revealed the presence of drugs.
“Forensic analysis of the defendant’s blood revealed Delta 9 THC at a concentration of 1.2ng/mL/blood, and Benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolite) at a concentration of 430ng/mL/blood,” the criminal complaint states.
Unlike alcohol, where there are allowable limits of the substance, any detectable presence of marijuana or cocaine is considered illegal.
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