PORT ANGELES — The trial of Amber Steim of Port Angeles on charges of vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol and witness tampering has been postponed to Sept. 12.
The trial for Steim, 24, was originally set for April 25 but was moved after her attorney, Ralph Anderson, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Troberg agreed the earlier date was not logistically possible.
Steim has pleaded not guilty to both charges, which were filed in connection with a March 6 crash on state Highway 112 between Joyce and Port Angeles that killed Ellen J. DeBondt, 44, a nurse with Olympic Medical Center’s home health agency.
Steim is free on $100,000 bond.
About 40 people attended the status hearing for Steim at which a July 7 hearing was set to argue whether a change of venue is merited because of the attention the case has received.
Anderson filed a motion requesting a change of venue Tuesday.
Troberg has until June 15 to respond to the motion, and then Anderson has until June 30 to file a rebuttal, Judge Ken Williams decided.
Verbal arguments will be heard at the July 7 hearing.
At the same hearing, Anderson will argue that separate trials be held for the witness-tampering and vehicular homicide charges.
“I think that can be handled very quickly at that time,” he said.
Anderson also filed a motion to have an expert witness look at Steim’s vehicle to evaluate whether something was wrong with the pickup at the time of the wreck.
The state stipulated that a State Patrol trooper be with the expert while examining the car.
Williams approved the motion.
A status hearing was set for July 28.
Steim is accused of being drunk when the pickup truck she was driving crossed the centerline and struck DeBondt’s pickup head-on.
Steim had minor injuries and was treated at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles.
Steim’s passenger, Nicole Boucher, also had minor injuries and was driven from the scene by a friend or family member.
In the witness-tampering charge, Steim is accused of contacting Boucher to fabricate an excuse involving alcohol.
If Steim is convicted of the vehicular homicide charge, she faces a sentence of between 31 and 41 months in prison and a $50,000 fine.
The crime of vehicular homicide carries a sentence of up to life in prison, but because Steim has a low-offender score, the sentence limit is 41 months, Troberg has said.
The witness-tampering charge carries a sentence of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
_________
COMMENTING DISABLED AND DELETED BECAUSE OF ABUSE AND LIBEL. Please see https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/misc/commentspolicy.html
