JUNEAU — A Beaver Dam teen accused of negligent homicide in the death of friend who was killed in a car crash last spring waived a preliminary hearing Thursday.
Dominick E. Kaiser, 17, stood mute when asked to enter a plea to a felony charge of homicide by negligent use of a vehicle. Dodge County Judge Brian Pfitzinger entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Kaiser could face up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted of causing the negligent death of 16-year-old Kristan A. Baade of Beaver Dam.
Investigators calculated that Kaiser was driving between 102 and 129 mph on Shaw Hill Road in the town of Beaver Dam when he lost control of his 1995 Eagle Summit on the afternoon of Sept. 15, 2008. The vehicle went airborne, struck a ditch and overturned before it struck a utility pole. Baade, who was partially ejected from the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dodge County Court Commissioner Steven Seim in September found probable cause in the charge of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and ordered Kaiser released on a $5,000 signature bond.
Seim upheld requests by Kurt Klomberg, assistant district attorney, that conditions of Kaiser’s bond prohibit him from driving and using drugs or alcohol.
Kaiser is also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, as police allege that pipes that had been used to smoke marijuana were found in the glove box of his vehicle following the crash.
Kaiser is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 5.