Cuba Township man ordered to use alcohol monitoring device while out on bond
A Cuba Township man who is free on bond in a fatal DUI-related crash has been ordered to wear a new electronic monitoring device that will repeatedly test his blood alcohol level to determine if he is drinking.
Kenneth K. Malanowski, 41, of the 28600 block of West Roberts Road, was ordered by Lake County Judge Mark Levitt to wear a SCRAM ankle bracelet, also known as the Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring device. Malanowski faces several DUI-related charges in the Nov. 26 crash that killed Stephanie Dokken, 26, of Youngstown, Arizona.
Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Michael Ori said Wednesday it was the first time he requested a person be placed on the device while awaiting trial and out on bond.
Ori said the device will test Malanowski's blood alcohol every 30 minutes to ensure he is complying with his bond condition. When a person wearing the device takes a drink of alcohol, officials will know about it almost immediately, Ori added.
Malanowski has pleaded not guilty to several charges including aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death, reckless homicide and failure to report an accident resulting in death.
If found guilty at trial, Malanowski could receive a maximum sentence of up to 14 years for the aggravated DUI, and a consecutive sentence of 15 years in prison for failure to report an accident resulting in death.
He is free from Lake County jail after posting the required 10 percent of his $200,000 bail.
Defense attorney Stephen Simonian did not comment on the SCRAM bracelet after court Wednesday.
Police said Malanowski was driving a 2007 Volvo north on Route 59 near Grass Lake Road in Antioch Township when he rear-ended the vehicle driven by Dokken. Both vehicles left the road and hit trees, authorities said.
Dokken was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy showed she died due to multiple traumatic injuries.
Malanowski fled, but officers used a police dog unit to track him down at his former residence near the crash site, authorities said. He was arrested Dec. 21 after police received the results of a toxicology screening.
Malanowski is next due in court March 28. His trial is set for June 4.