Royal Purple

Issue date: 12/12/07 Section: News

Samantha Young mugshot provided by the Dane County Sheriff's Office

Samantha Young, the driver of a car that rear-ended a UW-Whitewater professor on I-90 last June resulting in the professor's death, plead no contest to homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle Jan. 16.

Judge David Flanagan of Dane County Circuit Court emphasized that a no contest plea meant that he would find Young guilty. In exchange for the no contest plea, the second charge of first degree reckless homicide was dropped, but Flanagan said that he would consider both charges when considering a sentence. Sentencing is set for March.

Young, who admitted to officers the night of the crash that she had been drinking and using cocaine, was estimated by witnesses to be driving at speeds of up to 120 mph. UW-Whitewater pshchology professor Paula "P.B." Poorman, 56, died from injuries suffered in the crash.

Young has been held in the Dane County jail since about Dec. 21. Her bail was revoked Wednesday.

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