Judge sets $5 million bail for driver who killed six teens

Robert Macy

Wednesday, March 22, 2000 | 10:42 a.m.

A justice of the peace set a $5 million bail for the woman accused of crashing into a freeway cleanup crew, killing six teen-agers.

Jessica Williams, 20, a dancer at a local striptease club, appeared before Justice Tony Abbatangelo on Wednesday for her initial hearing wearing shackles.

Williams, who appeared pale, told the judge her family had hired an attorney to represent her.

The judge said he might release Williams on her own recognizance if formal charges are not filed in five days.

Clark County Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker assured the judge the charges would be filed within that time.

The district attorney's office is awaiting blood tests taken on Williams after Sunday's accident before it files formal charges.

District Attorney Stewart Bell said it is likely Williams will face six charges of driving under the influence, six charges of reckless driving and six charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Booker said the case would be taken directly to a grand jury April 11 to expedite the case, rather than using a more time-consuming preliminary hearing.

When asked if this was a death penalty case, Booker responded, "It depends on your perspective. There are lot of parents of the victims who say it is a death penalty case."

Under the most severe penalty, Williams faces 2 to 20 years in prison on each of the six DUI counts.

Williams was arrested after her van plowed into a group of teen-agers, ages 14 to 16, who were part of a county work release crew picking up trash along busy Interstate 15 north of Las Vegas. The county program allows juveniles with minor offenses to work off jail time and fines.

Booker expressed dismay over calls to end the program. He said the concern over the program was a natural reaction, but unwarranted.

Such programs are conducted nationwide without any incidents of death or injury, Booker said.

"What you have here is a person high on marijuana who went into a nod and hit the kids," Booker said.

John Watkins, Williams' attorney, said his client likely fell asleep at the wheel.