Cuba Township man pleads not guilty to DUI charges in fatal crash
A Cuba Township man pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol charges stemming from a crash that killed an Arizona woman in late 2017.
Kenneth K. Malanowski, 41, of the 28600 block of West Roberts Road, faces up to 29 years in prison if found guilty on charges of aggravated driving under the influence 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 accident resulting in death.
He is free from Lake County jail after posting the required 10 percent of his $500,000 bail.
Defense attorney Stephen Simonian did not comment after the arraignment hearing Wednesday in front of Judge Mark Levitt.
Police said Malanowski was driving a 2007 Volvo north on Route 59 near Grass Lake Road in Antioch Township in the early morning hours of Nov. 26 when he rear-ended a vehicle driven by Stephanie Dokken, 26, of Youngtown, Arizona. Both vehicles left the road and hit trees.
Dokken was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy showed she died due to multiple traumatic injuries.
Malanowski fled the scene, and officers used a police dog unit to track him down at his former residence, which was near the accident site, authorities said. He was arrested Dec. 21 after police received the results of a toxicology screening.
Malanowski is next due in court February 28. His trial was set for June 4.