A new trial date has been scheduled for a Green Bay woman accused of supplying the drugs that led to the 2021 death of a man who died at Mohican North Star Casino Resort in the Town of Bartelme.
Stephany L. French, 29, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide by delivering drugs, theft from a corpse and a misdemeanor charge of failure to aid a victim or report a crime. A December jury trial had been canceled in November while prosecution and defense attorneys discussed the prosecution’s latest offer for a plea agreement.
During a status conference in the case Jan. 30, Shawano-Menominee County Judge Katherine Sloma asked defense attorney Eric Steven Maciolek whether a plea deal had been reached, but Maciolek asked that the trial be placed back on the calendar.
The victim’s uncle made a statement on behalf of the family, asking that an effort be made to speed up the process.
“It’s a matter of concern for all the family members that are involved,” he said. “We have a total of about 35 of our siblings and our children and grandchildren, and it’s affecting all of them quite a bit. Yes, I know that in court proceedings there are rights, but also as a victim, too, we have rights.”
Sloma agreed with the uncle, noting that the charges were filed against French almost exactly two years ago, on Feb. 1, 2022.
“I don’t like for a case to last this long, and I wish they could come to closure sooner one way or another,” Sloma said. “Apparently it’s going back on the trial calendar, I was optimistic that it wouldn’t be going that way, but unfortunately we will reset it. I’ll try and put it on sooner rather than later.”
After reviewing the court calendar for coming months, the judge was able to schedule a four-day trial starting June 4, with a final pre-trial conference set for May 16.
District Attorney Gregory Parker added a comment to Maciolek that the plea offer is revoked.
“We’re not screwing around with this again,” Parker said.
According to the criminal complaint, the man’s body was found Sept. 3, 2021, by a housekeeper at the hotel. An autopsy listed the cause of death as fentanyl, methamphetamine and ethanol toxicity.
Shawano County sheriff’s deputies found a white powdery residue on the nightstand next to the bed, but no drugs or drug paraphernalia were located in the room, the complaint said.
Hotel registration showed that a Lynn French was listed as the man’s guest. After searching his vehicle, authorities found paperwork for the owner of the car.
When contacted, the car owner stated that the victim was with his cousin, Stephany French, and alleged that she had a $400 a day heroin habit, the complaint said. The victim’s family stated that the victim liked to drink alcohol but was not a drug user.
According to the complaint, French at first denied being in the room, but when confronted with video surveillance photos, she said she didn’t know what happened to the man but tried to revive him by pouring cold water on him.
wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com
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