A birthday celebration had a tragic ending Aug. 29, leaving one man dead and his friend charged with drunken driving and homicide.
Jeremia B. Spohn, 27, Townsend, was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle in the death of Thomas C. Espe, 38, of Mountain.
According to a criminal complaint, Spohn told investigators he and Espe were returning to Spohn’s Townsend home after celebrating his 27th birthday when he lost control of his black pick-up truck at 2:30 a.m. on the curves of East Burnt Dam Road in Townsend.
According to Spohn’s statement to law enforcement, Espe, who was seated in the center of the front seat (a dog was in the passenger side), put his foot on the gas pedal, trying to “kick the truck out sideways.” The truck overturned and crashed into the ditch, landing on its passenger side.
Espe, a co-worker Spohn had known for three years, was partially ejected and was pronounced dead at the scene. Spohn was treated at local hospital before being booked into the Oconto County Jail. He has one prior conviction for operating while intoxicated. Spohn registered a .117 blood alcohol content for a breath sample administered at the hospital. The legal limit in Wisconsin is less that .08.
A cash bond of $20,000 was set Sept. 2 in Oconto County Circuit Court. A continued initial appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
If convicted of the homicide, Spohn faces a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment.
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