A Trip For Cigars That Ended In Death
A complaint based on a criminal conviction has been filed by the Illinois Administrator
In the afternoon and evening of July 28, 2018, Respondent consumed at least five drinks containing Scotch whisky while socializing with his college friends in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
At about 12:00 a.m. on July 29, 2018, Respondent and his friend, Joseph Gallagher, left the cabin where they were staying to purchase cigars at a gas station located approximately seven miles from the cabin. Respondent drove his Mercedes Benz to the gas station and Gallagher was his passenger.
On the way back to the cabin, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Respondent drove his vehicle at approximately 100 miles per hour. Respondent lost control of his vehicle, drove off the roadway, hit a tree stump, and caused Gallagher’s ejection from the vehicle and subsequent death from blunt force trauma.
When Oconto County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived at the scene, they smelled alcohol on Respondent’s breath. The officers also noticed that Respondent’s speech was thick and his eyes were glossy. Respondent advised the officers that he had consumed four drinks of Scotch at a local restaurant about two hours prior to the accident. Respondent also made several statements at the scene indicating that he killed his friend because of his alcoholism. Respondent was advised at the scene that he was under arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Respondent was injured in the incident and was airlifted to St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin. At the hospital, at approximately 4:30 a.m., Respondent’s blood was drawn. Respondent registered a .169 blood-alcohol concentration.
In the criminal case
On April 12, 2019, the Honorable Patrick O’Melia entered a judgment of conviction against Respondent for the crime of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Judge O’Melia sentenced Respondent to three years of incarceration and 10 years of supervision, both stayed, and ordered Respondent to serve one year of actual jail time on work release, to perform 80 hours of community service and to complete 15 years of probation. Judge O’Melia also fined Respondent $5,000, ordered him to pay costs and ordered him not to possess or consume alcohol or illegal drugs. Pursuant to Respondent’s plea agreement, the District Attorney dismissed the charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration and homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle.
The Green Bay Press Gazette reported on the sentencing and provides details
The crash occurred about 1:34 a.m. Sunday, July 29, on Klatt Road in the town of Underhill, southeast of Gillett.
Maras was northbound on County V in Shawano County, crossed the intersection at Deering Road — where the road turns into Klatt Road in Oconto County — without stopping at the stop sign.
Traveling approximately 100 mph, the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Model S four-door crossed the center of the roadway, and entered the west ditch, which has a steep embankment.
The car continued north and struck a large tree stump, which tore through the engine compartment, to the passenger side floor boards, separating the engine, transmission and the passenger seat from the vehicle, which overturned.
A first responder who placed a tourniquet on Maras’ lower leg said Maras asked if she could find his friend. After she asked people to start looking for the passenger, Maras said, “Oh my God, I killed my friend.”
A blood sample determined his blood-alcohol concentration was 0.169 percent, just over twice the legal limit. Maras told a deputy he had four drinks with Scotch at a local restaurant two hours earlier.
Maras is an attorney at the Chicago office of Hennessy & Roach, which has offices throughout the Midwest, including Green Bay. He graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1987, according to his biography on firm’s website.
Gallagher’s online obituary says he graduated from Marquette with a degree in criminal justice in 1986. He first worked as a police officer, then worked in advertising in Washington D.C. and New York.
(Mike Frisch)