Janesville woman enters not guilty plea in Corvette crash
RHINELANDER — A Janesville woman pleaded not guilty Monday in Oneida County Court to a charge of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle.
Sara L. McGrath, 27, 3103 N. Crystal Springs Road, Janesville, is charged in a May 2 one-vehicle crash that took the life of McGrath’s passenger, a Minocqua woman.
According to the criminal complaint, McGrath was driving a yellow Corvette more than 100 mph on Highway 70 when she lost control at a curve. Her passenger, Mary Frantz, 50, was pronounced dead at the scene. McGrath, who was living in Minocqua at the time of the accident, was injured.
McGrath, a bartender, was given permission to leave her job so she could drive the Corvette, which belonged to Frantz. When she failed to return to close the bar, her employer got worried and called the police, according to the complaint.
McGrath told investigators she and Frantz stopped at another bar before the accident, but McGrath claimed she drank only part of a beer while there, according to the complaint.
McGrath told police she doesn’t remember how fast she was driving, but a Wisconsin State Patrol accident reconstruction report indicates the vehicle reached speeds as high as 117 mph.
The report indicates the primary factor causing the crash was the manner in which McGrath was driving, and McGrath’s consumption of intoxicants also might have contributed to the crash.
McGrath is scheduled back in court April 1. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison. She remains free on a signature bond.
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Dec 19, 2009 at 9:07 p.m.
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If Vette's were outlawed, then only the outlaws will own vette's.
Dec 18, 2009 at 3:49 p.m.
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That link pertains to a suit settled by the IRS filed by a drunk driver totalling his new $40,000 truck. He wants to write the $33,000 off as a casualty loss on his taxes and the IRS said, "OK".
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What! . . . . .
Dec 18, 2009 at 1:33 p.m.
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taxed2much... Easy on the reporter. It's called sensationalism. You would have learned that in a writing class. To sell your story and to help sell papers you have to jazz up the story. In this case it paints a picture in your mind that this lady was a hot rodding menace driving a sports car.
Dec 18, 2009 at 12:55 p.m.
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What difference does it make if she was driving a Corvette versus if she was driving a Ford Taurus? Someone still died because the driver was going way to fast and was possibly under the influence. The Corvette does not have anything to do with it. Also what difference does it make if the Vette was Yellow, or White, or Black or even Torch Red? Are yellow Vettes more dangerous than red ones or black ones? What does providing the color have anything to do with it? Nice reporting.
Dec 18, 2009 at 12:08 p.m.
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Get a load of this. UN*(($*%&%^BELIEVABLE???
(As Bobb1951 would say).
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Tax...
Dec 18, 2009 at 8:04 a.m.
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Sara's had a lead foot and a drinking problem for a long time. It's unfortunate she killed someone. I don't believe she's not guilty; it's a stalling tactic for a plea bargain. Her family is wealthy and can afford expensive attorneys to fight this. But will she even learn her lesson? How many people don't learn from experience? A lot, I'd bet. Wisconsin needs to have tougher laws for speeders and drunk drivers; both pose serious health risks to others on the road.
Dec 18, 2009 at 12:41 a.m.
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I just can not beleive why people that want to driveway over the speed limit or race think it is ok to use are roads for this.Why people why?Then kill someone in her own car and plead not guilty totaly wrong..Then on the other hand why would her friend allow her to drive that fast?Totaly a waste of life...
Dec 18, 2009 at 12:38 a.m.
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But then again, a Winnebago County (Il) Sheriffs Deputy, traveling at 100+ MPH in a county squad car, without red lights and siren, in a very busy part of Rockford, collides with a vehicle, killing 2 and permanently disabling another and is found not guilty in a subsequent trial. He still works for the Sheriffs Department today. Go figure.
http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1086965744
Dec 17, 2009 at 9:55 p.m.
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117 mph!!! I am sorry, but some people don't use the brains that God gave them.
Dec 17, 2009 at 3:34 p.m.
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billnewbie is correct! the only time a criminal actually gets a punishment that somewhat fits the crime and somewhat helps the victim (whether a person or a community) to become whole again is during high profile cases for elections. I don't know why it matters; however, no one runs against a DA because it doesn't pay as well as a private attorney. And we live in a society where it is CRIMINAL justice not VICTIM justice. There is a huge difference!
Dec 17, 2009 at 1:04 p.m.
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So, she plead Not Guilty. Shocking!
In Wisconsin, a not guilty plea is part of the plea bargaining process. The D.A.s can't make their rock bottom offer until it looks like they've at least tried to do their jobs. Defense lawyers know this so they play along and in the end the defendant gets far less punishment than the offense deserves while the D.A. looks tougher than he really is. And what of justice? Well, that's only for high profile cases where D.A.s make their reputations for toughness that they use during re-election campaigns.
Dec 17, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
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Wahoo_35 - What?
Dec 17, 2009 at 8:27 a.m.
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She must have been on her way to skateboard!
Dec 17, 2009 at 4:50 a.m.
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This article seems to be fragmented with parts of the information left out. It only raises more questions then informs...
Dec 17, 2009 at 4:31 a.m.
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You don't plead Not Guilty because you're not guilty. You plead Not Guilty in order to get it plea bargained down to aggravated jay walking or something and just pay a fine.
Dec 17, 2009 at 12:02 a.m.
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it*
Dec 17, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.
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Iy does not say she was drunk nor does it say she was charged with OWI. Stupid for the speed she was driving and the life that was lost she should be held accountable.
Dec 16, 2009 at 11:06 p.m.
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Sounds like Mary Frantz made a stupid decision, and paid the ultimate cost!
Dec 16, 2009 at 10:37 p.m.
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Okay, so what was her blood alcohol level?
Dec 16, 2009 at 7:59 p.m.
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Funny how the article says intoxicants may be a factor? Anyone want to ask what the blood alcohol level was that night? You may be surprized. Just mabey it was an accident, and mabey she already lost a friend who she was with that night. Lets get all the information prior to making a decision anyway.
Dec 16, 2009 at 7:23 p.m.
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where's the mug shot of this lady? I'd like to make sure I don't bump into her
Dec 16, 2009 at 6:02 p.m.
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I have NEVER understood the "not guilty" plea. You are guilty. What is the time and fine? Not guilty because you were DRUNK?
Dec 16, 2009 at 5:32 p.m.
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If this happened the way it say she thinks she's not guilty why?
Dec 16, 2009 at 5:32 p.m.
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If this happened the way it say she thinks she's not guilty why?
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