EAGLE RIVER, Wis. (WSAU) – A 49-year-old Lac du Flambeau man has been charged with the drunken driving death of a Vilas County sheriff’s deputy.
Prosecutors charged James Peontke with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle Wednesday. The felony carries a maximum 25-year sentence.
Judge Neal Nielsen lowered Peontke’s bond from $20,000 to $5,000 cash. He still cannot drink or drive and must obey a 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. home curfew.
Nielsen recused himself from the case and a future court date won’t be set until there’s a new judge.
Peontke is accused of pulling in front of Deputy Kory Dahlvig as he was responding to an emergency call on Highway 47 Sunday night. Dahlvig rear-ended Peontke’s truck and died at the scene.
Dahlvig’s funeral services are scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday at Ascension Lutheran Church in Minocqua.
