2 facing drug charges after crash with bus

3rd person charged with felony bail jumping
By: 
Tim Ryan
Reporter

WESCOTT — Two people were arrested on felony drug charges and a third for bail jumping Wednesday after their SUV struck a Menominee Transit bus in the town of Wescott.

Amanda A. Stage, 23, and Joel E. Greer, 46, both of Green Bay, were each charged with felony counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and second or subsequent offense possession of marijuana.

Stage is also charged with felony bail jumping.

According to the criminal complaint, Stage, who was driving the SUV, was operating after revocation and was out on bond for two felony cases in Shawano County.

A third person, Lakeshia R. Wayka, 29, of Green Bay, was charged with felony bail jumping and a misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer.

According to the criminal complaint, Wayka had fled the crash scene on foot prior to the arrival of deputies. She was later located on North Lafayette Street in Shawano.

Wayka was also out on bond in a felony case in Brown County, according to the complaint.

A fourth person in the vehicle, a 37-year-old Green Bay woman who was out on bond in an unrelated case, was not arrested or charged in connection with this incident.

The crash occurred around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on state Highway 47-55.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Jesse Sperberg said the SUV was heading west when it went through a stop sign at Lake Drive and struck the northbound bus, causing it to roll onto its side.

According to the criminal complaint, the SUV had been going about 70 mph when it blew through the stop sign.

The bus driver, who was the only person on the bus, and occupants of the SUV received minor injuries.

According to the criminal complaint, Stage appeared to have been using marijuana prior to the crash.

Sheriff’s K-9 Rekon alerted deputies to the presence of drugs in the vehicle and in a grassy area about 15 yards from the crash where Greer had been seen “digging around,” according to the complaint.

Authorities recovered wrappers from flavored cigars that, according to the complaint, are commonly used for smoking marijuana after the original tobacco has been removed.

Authorities also recovered plastic bags from the grassy area that contained 3.1 grams of cocaine and 1.2 grams of marijuana, according to the complaint.

Authorities also found $2,355 in cash in Stage’s purse, along with an ATM receipt showing a withdrawal of $3,500.

Stage and Greer could each face a maximum 12½ years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, and 3½ years and a $10,000 fine for second or subsequent offense possession of marijuana.

Stage and Wayka could each face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if convicted of felony bail jumping.

According to court records, Stage is awaiting trial in a felony case of possession with intent to deliver narcotics and was out on a $10,000 cash bond set by Judge James Habeck at a hearing in January.

She was charged in August with felony bail jumping stemming from a misdemeanor charge of fourth-offense operating while revoked. She was out on a $500 cash bond and $500 signature bond set by Habeck in that case, according to court records.

At her initial appearance on the new charges Thursday, Habeck ordered Stage held on a $20,000 cash bond. She is scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance on Sept. 23.

Greer was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond set by Habeck and is also due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on Sept. 23.

According to court records, Greer has previous felony convictions in Brown County for manufacture and delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

Habeck ordered Wayka held on a $500 cash bond. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Sept. 19.

tryan@newmedia-wi.com