RN says suspect was not impaired

Kim Smith

Friday, Feb. 9, 2001 | 11:21 a.m.

A University Medical Center trauma nurse this morning told jurors in the Jessica Williams trial that Williams didn't appear to be impaired by either marijuana or Ecstasy.

Julie Rabeau, a registered nurse, said Williams' vital signs were in the normal range within an hour after the accident that resulted in the deaths of six teenagers.

Today is the fifth day in the trial of Williams.

The 21-year-old is accused of drifting off Interstate 15 north of Las Vegas on March 19 and striking and killing the teenagers as they were picking up trash in the median as punishment for minor crimes.

Those killed were Malena Stoltzfus, Jennifer Booth, Rebeccah Glicken, Scott Garner Jr., Anthony Smith and Alberto Puig.

Prosecutors allege Williams had marijuana and Ecstasy in her system, but her attorney maintains she simply fell asleep.

Jurors can acquit Williams or find her guilty of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of a prohibited substance, reckless driving or involuntary manslaughter.

In order to convict her of the controlled-substance charge, the jury would have to believe she was impaired by the drugs -- something her attorney, John Watkins, believes is scientifically impossible to prove.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker contends the jury can convict Williams under the prohibited substance section of the DUI statute, which doesn't address impairment. It simply states that those with certain levels of marijuana in their system are considered to be driving under the influence.

Toxicologists have testified that Williams had 5.5 nanograms of marijuana's active ingredient in her blood after the accident. Nevada's statutes indicate that anyone with 2 nanograms or more are considered to be under the influence of the drug.

On Thursday, three other people who treated Williams for minor injuries after the accident also testified she did not appear to be under the influence of drugs.

American Medical Response Paramedic Tammy Gomez, Emergency Medical Technician Victor Montecerin and emergency room Dr. Anthony Jennings all said Williams' pupils, blood pressure and pulse rate were within normal range.

Others have testified that people impaired by drugs often have accelerated blood pressure and pulses and dilated pupils.

Also testifying on Thursday were two law enforcement officers who said they saw no reason why Williams could not have been given field sobriety tests at the scene of the crash.

Because she wasn't, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Doug Webster and Metro Detective William Redfairn said Williams is at a severe disadvantage in trying to prove her innocence.

The troopers who handled the accident said they didn't give Williams the tests because she was injured and being treated by medical personnel.

Webster told the juror that there are alternate tests that can be given to prove impairment when a suspect can't perform the traditional tests at the scene.

Under cross-examination, it was revealed those tests have not been approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It also came out that Webster has been relieved of his normal duties and placed on desk duty pending the outcome of an investigation, the reason for which was not revealed.

Redfairn also told jurors under cross-examination that he believes the crash was caused by a combination of factors. He said Williams suffered from a lack of sleep, had taken the two drugs and was driving for a considerable length of time in a desolate area with nothing to look at. In addition, her passenger was sleeping so she had no stimulation inside the van.

This morning Watkins tried to get that portion of Redfairn's testimony stricken from the records, arguing that Redfairn is not a toxicologist. District Judge Mark Gibbons denied Watkins' motion.

The judge also warned the attorneys on Thursday that they need to stop "making speeches" along with their objections. Several times throughout the trial, Watkins has made references to things that Gibbons has ruled cannot be brought up during the trial, such as medical marijuana.

"There better not be any more violations because I'm going to stop talking and start acting," Gibbons said.

The next person who violates his order, Gibbons said, better have his tooth brush packed because he will be jailed.

Watkins is expected to wrap up his case next week.

If convicted, Williams could face as much as a 120-year prison sentence.

Reckless driving comes with a one to six-year prison sentence and involuntary manslaughter is a one to four-year sentence. Both DUI sentences are two to 20 years.

While Williams could be convicted on all of the charges, she can only be sentenced on one.

Since she faces six counts on each charge, a judge could decide to run each sentence one after the other.