Posted: 8/9/05
Schutte faces vehicular homicide charges
An omnibus hearing for James Dean Schutte, 24, Rochester, is set for August 29.
Schutte, formerly of Caledonia, is charged with four counts of criminal vehicular operation resulting in death.
He was arraigned in Third District Court on June 8 for his role in an accident in Caledonia on April 6 that killed Matthew James Atkinson, 20, of Backus, Minnesota.
Schutte also faces four counts of criminal vehicular operation resulting in substantial bodily harm and one count of driving after revocation.
He is currently in the Goodhue County Jail in Red Wing because the Houston County Jail is at capacity. Judge James Fabian set his bail at $50,000 conditional and $100,000 unconditional.
Schutte was the driver of a Pontiac Grand Prix that crashed into a tree near the corner of Green Acres Road and Knollwood Drive at about 9:45 p.m. on April 16. Atkinson, who was in the back seat, died.
Another passenger, Kelly Jo Shefelbine, 34, of Rochester, who was in the front seat, had a back injury and two ribs broken.
Police officers reported that Schutte was driving at a high rate of speed before the accident, and that they smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle after the crash.
A blood sample taken from Schutte at 11:54 p.m. at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center showed a blood alcohol concentration of .19.
The charges state that Schutte caused the death of Atkinson and bodily harm to Shefelbine as a result of operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner while having an alcohol content of .10 or more.
Schutte is being represented by public defender Samuel Jandt of La Crescent.
Caledonia man charged in heroin-related death
Ryan Leo Daley, 23, Caledonia, was charged on August 5 in Dane County Circuit Court in Madison, Wisconsin with being party to first degree reckless homicide.
He is accused of purchasing the heroin that killed Sarah Stellner, 20, in Madison on April 26.
Three other people face similar charges: Samuel Katz, 26, of Madison, was allegedly with Daley at the purchase, and has also been charged; Morgan Fenick, 18, of Madison, Stellnerís roommate, who has admitted to injecting the heroin into Stellner; and Lavina M. Mull, 25, of Madison, who allegedly sold the half gram of heroin to Daley at a Madison gas station for $100.
Daley could face up to 40 years in prison.
Thomas Sauer in jail
Thomas Sauer, 42, Hokah, was arrested on July 28 for probation violation and is being held without bail in the Houston County Jail. His disposition is scheduled for September 7 at 11:15 a.m.
He admitted in court on August 3 to using mood altering chemicals and not submitting to a random breath test, which were conditions of his probation.
Sauer pled guilty on September 30, 2003, to first degree burglary, second degree assault, fleeing a police officer, terroristic threats, and third degree driving under the influence. He was sentenced a month later to a year in jail, a $500 fine, and $2,800 in restitution.
He broke into his girlfriendís house on June 27, 2003, and told her he had a loaded shotgun that ìhad a bullet with her name on it.î After police were called, he fled in his van. Police subdued him using a Taser.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com