A Marinette man charged in the drunk driving deaths of five people has entered into a plea agreement. In Marinette County Court Thursday, 40-year old Richard Allen Powell entered no contest pleas to five counts of Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle. Powell is alleged to have been drinking the night of January 18th when he broadsided a car occupied by Wrightstown resident Joel Rivas and four of his children, two of whom were pregnant. Everyone in the Rivas vehicle was killed in the crash, which took place on U.S. Highway 41 on the outskirts of Marinette. For his conviction on the five charges, Powell faces a possible sentence of 125 years in prison and a 500-thousand-dollar fine. His sentencing is scheduled for February 9th.
Ken Conners, Bay Cities Radio