PORT ANGELES — Mary Kristine Kniskern answered a judge’s questions in a teary voice Friday morning during her first appearance in Clallam County Superior Court.
Kniskern, 26, who was the driver in a car crash that killed three of five passengers New Year’s Eve near Sequim, is facing vehicular homicide and vehicular assault charges for the crash.
Family and friends of the crash victims, filling several benches in the courtroom, watched as Judge George L. Wood released Kniskern on her own recognizance to live with her mother in Diamond Point.
She is scheduled to return to court at 9 a.m. May 30 to be arraigned on three counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault in the deaths of Paul Boynton, 22, Aaron Gambell, 19, and Heather Holden, 19.
The charges carry a standard sentencing range of nine to 12 years in prison if Kniskern is convicted on all counts, Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly said.
Kniskern appeared visibly upset Friday during the short hearing as she sat before the judge.
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