November 21, 2022 at 3:39 p.m.
State adds two felony counts in Wildcat case
Judicial pretrial set for Jan. 31
State adds two felony counts in Wildcat case
By Trevor Greene-
On Nov. 16, Wildcat entered not guilty pleas to the two additional charges - homicide by intoxicated use of vehicle and homicide by negligent operation of vehicle, both felonies
According to court records, Wildcat's attorney Daniel Snyder of Park Falls requested 120 days to obtain "expert witnesses for affirmative defense."
Vilas County circuit court judge Martha Milanowski responded by scheduling a judicial pretrial for Jan. 31.
At that time the defense will be able to update the court on the status of its witnesses, the record states.
In June, a criminal complaint was filed against Wildcat alleging the motor vehicle she was operating struck and killed 31-year-old Alejandro Retana-Echeverria on U.S. Highway 51 during the early morning hours of June 16.
Her case was still in the discovery phase up until the original complaint was amended Nov. 3, because it took time for medical and lab results as to whether or not Wildcat had been under the influence.
The charges included in the amended complaint were expected, as Vilas County district attorney Karl Hayes indicated during a June 29 preliminary hearing.
According to the complaint, investigators said the defendant's vehicle emitted an odor of marijuana when they found Wildcat back at a nearby bar where she and Echeverria and were seen in the hours preceding in the fatal collision.
Wildcat was noted to have worked at the bar that night, and a coworker told investigators Wildcat consumed three alcoholic beverages before leaving to look for Echeverria, who previously left the premises on foot.
If convicted, Wildcat would face maximum penalties of up to 25 years in prison or up to a $100,000 fine, or both, on each of the  Class D felony charges. Maximum penalties for the Class G felony are up to 10 years in prison or up to a $25,000 fine or both.
Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].
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