GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Sienna Pecore, a 16-year-old charged in adult court with high-speed fatal traffic crash, is now being housed at a juvenile detention wing of the Brown County Jail – alleviating a concern of her attorneys about how she was being treated.
Pecore faces five counts, including first-degree reckless homicide, for allegedly stealing her mother’s car, driving at more than 100 mph and then crashing, killing a passenger, Cruz Beltron. The crash at Mason and Oneida streets happened on Oct. 30, 2022. She was 15 at the time of the crash.
In Wisconsin, those ages 10 and older charged with certain homicide counts are prosecuted in adult court, such as in this case. As is allowed by law, the defense asked for the case to be moved to juvenile court but a judge denied that motion – keeping it in adult court. The trial is scheduled to start Feb. 26.
Prior to this week, Pecore had been housed in an adult section of the jail, although mostly separated from other adult inmates. Her attorneys repeatedly objected to that arrangement.
District Attorney David Lasee said in court Wednesday Pecore is now in a juvenile detention wing, and it’s his understanding the sheriff’s department plans to keep her there.
Attorney Catherine White said the move appeared to be a proper one, but she still wants to make sure Pecore gets the appropriate educational and counseling services.
The next step in the case will be a motions hearing Feb. 2.
According to the criminal complaint, Pecore told police she had her mother’s car without permission.
“(The officer) asked Pecore why was she driving so fast and she said that she did not know and that she just was. (The officer) asked Pecore if she was racing another car, weaving in and out of traffic or being encouraged to drive that fast and she said she was not. (The officer) informed Pecore that a preliminary speed estimate was that she was traveling in excess of 100 MPH and Pecore said that she did not think that was right,” the complaint states.
“Pecore stated that she saw that the light was green, but then it turned yellow so she thought she could make it through the intersection. Pecore did state that she did remember seeing a vehicle stopped northbound on S. Oneida St. just south of W. Mason St. Pecore recalled the vehicle enter the intersection as she approached. Pecore stated that she then really did not remember what happened,” the complaint states.
Police used security cameras to estimate her speed.
“My analysis of the Walgreens video concluded that the Corolla was traveling an average of 170.9 feet per second or 116.5 MPH over the last 188 ft or 1.1 seconds prior to impact. My analysis of the Shell video concluded that the Corolla was traveling an average of 181 feet per second or 123.4 MPH over the last 362 feet or 2 seconds prior to impact. The posted speed limit here is 35 MPH,” the complaint states.
