Sheldon Man Appears in Taylor County Court for Motion Hearing
Saturday, August 16th, 2014 -- 6:19 AM
-A Sheldon man appeared in Taylor County Court on Thursday for hitting two hunters with his vehicle during the 2013 gun deer season.According to the Taylor County Sheriff?s Department, 52-year-old Juan Salinas of Roscoe, Illinois and 53-year-old Fernando Salinas also of Roscoe, Illinois, were struck by a vehicle. Juan Salinas died of his injuries. The accident happened at Miller Avenue and County Line Road, 9 miles west of Gilman.
According to authorities, the driver of the vehicle that hit the two hunters, 42-year-old James Winchel of Sheldon, was driving at a high rate of speed, close to 50 mph, and the two hunters couldn?t get out of the way. Authorities said that Winchel?s blood alcohol level was .19%, more than double the legal limit and he admitted to police that he had several beers before the incident.
Winchel did enter not guilty pleas to the charges filed against him, which includes homicide, OWI, and more. During a motion hearing, Winchel?s attorney asked for medical records, having a blood draw suppressed and getting a sample of the victim?s blood. The medical records were granted, but the blood draw and victims blood were not decided on at this time. It was decided that more testimony and information was needed.
Winchel will appear in court for another motion hearing regarding those items in October.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.