WIBAUX, Mont. - A Wibaux woman formally entered a plea of not guilty to negligent homicide charges Wednesday morning in a district court hearing here.
The state of Montana's case against Julie C. Rogers continued as Judge Richard A. Simonton asked Rogers whether she was currently under the influence of drugs or alcohol or had any mental problems. She quietly stated no to both questions.
However, when she was asked to stand to plead to the charges against her, Rogers spoke loud and clear.
The charge against Rogers of negligent homicide, the judge reiterated could result in a prison sentence not to exceed 20 years or a fine not to exceed $50,000, or both.
According to court documents from a July 5 hearing, Rogers allegedly did on our about June 15 negligently operate a vehicle which led to the death of Tamela Ann Curtis, 47. Both women were Wibaux residents and were allegedly driving to Curtis' parents' home in Wibaux.
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Rogers was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and did not operate the vehicle, a 1991 Dodge Dynasty, with due care.
Dr. Kenneth H. Mueller, a forensic medical examiner in Billings, Mont., said in autopsy reports from the same court documents that Curtis died fairly quickly from blunt force injuries after being struck by a moving vehicle between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
At Wednesday's district court hearing, Simonton restated the events of the July 5 hearing.
During that hearing, Rogers asked for the public defender's office to represent her. She was appointed the counsel of Ali Moulton on July 14.
Both Moulton and Wibaux County Attorney Ron Efta, who is representing the state of Montana, asked to postpone the next hearing date after Simonton originally scheduled the trial to begin the first Wednesday in October.
Efta said the attorneys did not expect to receive all of the evidence they would need from the crime lab by the October date.
"There will probably be a good deal of forensic evidence (in this case)," Efta said to the judge.
The trial is to begin during the following regularly scheduled district court meeting, which is Nov. 1 at 9 a.m. The hearing will take place at the Wibaux County Courthouse.
