After almost four hours in a sentencing hearing, Vilas County Judge Neal Nielsen III sent Tyler Metz, 20 now of Rhinelander, to prison as a result of a two vehicle crash on Jan. 23, 2019 on Highway 51 near Baken Road in Boulder Junction that claimed the life of Timothy Boss.
Metz had entered a no contest plea and was found guilty to one count of homicide by vehicle use with a controlled substance in his system. Vilas County district attorney Martha Milanowski told the court Metz has a history of drug use that started after an accident he was in back in 2016.
“He had a pattern of obtaining and using drugs that ultimately resulted in taking a life,” Milanowski said. “This is a homicide case and a prison sentence is warranted. Confinement is necessary but I will leave the length up to the court. The impact on his daughter seeing her father die is lifelong.”
Defense attorney Brian Kinstler indicated there was a witness to the crash that indicated icy road conditions led to the crash that led to the tragic loss of life.
“The police report indicates the lady slid on an icy spot and ended up in the ditch,” Kinstler said. “She saw the truck Metz was driving hit the same icy spot and collide head on with the other vehicle."
Kinstler recommended the court sentence Metz to two years in prison and three years extended supervision but stay the sentence and place him a county jail for 12 months with work release allowed.
“He has kept clean for 539 days and is at a lower risk to again use drugs,” he said.
Judge Nielsen indicated crashes of this kind are never intended and “the community lost a tremendous guy.” Nielsen did admit that continued rehabilitation is necessary because even the pre-sentence report indicates Metz is a risk if he relapses and gets behind the wheel of a vehicle.
“Which Tyler Metz am I sentencing today? He is to be commended for 539 days of sobriety from drugs and that doesn’t come easy. He was 19 years old just two weeks and two days before this incident.
“We usually don’t send 20 year old's to prison for an offense they never intended to happen, but I believe this is a prison case.”
He then sentence Metz to prison for seven years with two years of initial confinement and five years extended supervision.
In addition, Judge Nielsen indicated he found him eligible for a challenge incarceration program and is eligible for substance abuse program. He revoked his driver's license of five years, all forfeitures and fines to be paid to the clerk of courts, and restitution that will be determined.
The sentencing hearing was on Zoom with at one time up to 40 persons watching.
