Man Pleads Not Guilty In Death Of Downers Grove Girl, 17

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — A Naperville man who has been indicted on 11 felony charges in the death of Downers Grove student Beth Dunlap pleaded not guilty Friday morning, Daily Herald reports. Joseph Kucharski, 51, faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of the Feb. 19 crash in which police say he fatally struck Dunlap while she was in a crosswalk outside Downers Grove North High School.

Dunlap was critically injured when she was hit and was taken off life support that Friday.

According to prosecutors, Kucharski was coming off of a four-day cocaine binge when he nodded off at the wheel and hit Dunlap. At the time of the crash, police say Kucharski had a BAC of 0.031. Authorities say crack pipes and crack-cocaine were later found in a hotel where Kucharski was staying.

After Dunlap's death, Kucharski's charges were upgraded to reckless homicide and aggravated DUI. Kucharski's indictment Friday included two counts of reckless homicide and nine counts of aggravated DUI, according to Daily Herald.

Kucharski is being held at DuPage County Jail on $750,000 bond. Judge Liam Brennan recently denied a request by Kucharski's attorney to grant a temporary furlough for Kucharski to complete drug treatment.

Kucharski is set to appear in court again on April 29.

More via Daily Herald

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