Kelton Snulligan has been charged in connection with a July 21, 2023, crash in Allouez. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Despite having his trial on a double-fatal traffic crash canceled just days before it was supposed to start due to actions by prosecutors, a judge declined Wednesday to reduce Kelton Snulligan’s bond in the case.
Snulligan, 23, faces 16 charges, including two charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle for the July 21, 2023 crash in Allouez. Trevor Hermon — a passenger in Snulligan’s car — and Luis Rios-Alvarado — who was driving the vehicle Snulligan struck — were killed in the crash, while several others were injured.
Snulligan’s trial was scheduled to start Oct. 7. The state asked for the trial to be postponed, citing scheduling conflicts for a prosecutor, witnesses, and unavailability of the parents of one of the victims. On Oct. 4, Judge Donald Zuidmulder denied the request, telling the state the trial would happen as scheduled. In response, prosecutors dropped the charges and re-filed them hours later. The move effectively re-started the case from the beginning.
Arguing Snulligan shouldn’t be punished for delays caused by the state, the defense asked for the $100,000 cash bond to be reduced.
In court Wednesday, District Attorney David Lasee noted the serious nature of the incident, which resulted in two deaths. Even with the defense challenging the blood alcohol level due to medical treatment Snulligan received after the crash, the speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour make it a reckless act demanding a high cash bond.
Defense attorney Nicole Masnika cited the challenge to the .097 BAC. She also questioned the methodology used to get the speed estimates.
Judge Marc Hammer was unswayed by the defense’s argument. He cited Snulligan’s previous citations for driving 22 mph and 47 mph over the limit. Regardless of what the evidence will eventually show as to the specifics in this case, it’s clear Snulligan was going faster than the 30 mph speed limit, Judge Hammer said.
“The defendant is a dangerous and a bad driver. He poses a clear and present danger to members of this community. And, I am allowed to consider the risks the defendant poses to the community in setting bond. Here, the risks are substantial,” the judge said.
Given that the case was already set for trial, Judge Hammer offered Wednesday to set a trial date. However, attorney Masnika requested a preliminary hearing because of the some issues the defense will raise that must be addressed before the arraignment. A Nov. 11 preliminary hearing was set.
According to the criminal complaint:
One of the passengers in the vehicle Snulligan was driving told police they had been drinking. They were concerned one of the group had alcohol poisoning, so they were headed to Bellin Hospital.
The owner of the Mercedes-Benz which Snulligan was driving was riding in the front passenger seat.
“As we approached the intersection, a small black car, like a Ford Focus, turned left from the oncoming lane across our path. They seemed to hesitate before turning. We were most likely going faster than the speed limit,” the passenger said. “I recall that we were going more likely faster than 55 MPH.”
The same passenger “described the crash and that if they had been going slower, that the vehicle which turned in front of them probably would’ve made it through the intersection,” the complaint states.
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