Indicted on a rarely used aggravated vehicular manslaughter charge and facing up to 25 years in prison, 24-year-old Ron Wendt, Jr. appeared in County Court today to formally plead not guilty to all 11 felony accounts against him.
Wendt, a resident of Alexander, is out of jail on $50,000 bail and appeared before Judge Robert Noonan in navy blue slacks, a blue shirt and blue tie. His family was with him.
Also in court was the family of Katie Stanley, an 18-year-old girl who was a back-seat passenger in a 1993 Toyota Camry on Aug. 14, when Wendt reportedly made a left-hand turn from Route 20 into the parking lot of My Saloon just as the Camry entered Darien Center.
The Camry struck the rear of Wendt's 2001 Dodge Ram truck.
Stanley died as result of the injuries she sustained in the accident.
Wendt was allegedly found later to have a BAC of .08.
His attorney, Thomas A. Burns, now has 45 days to file motions and prepare his case.
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