Not guilty plea entered in OWI homicide case

An Oconto Falls man pleaded not guilty in Oconto County Circuit Court on Sept. 26 to a charge of homicide by the intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.

Thomas Edward Wolf, 56, Oconto Falls, is charged in connection with a crash Aug. 3 that claimed the life of Bart Erdman, 60, also of Oconto Falls. He also is charged with a third offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a misdemeanor.

Wolf’s pickup truck rear-ended Erdman’s motorcycle as the two vehicles were southbound on County Road I near Beaver Lake Road in the Town of Stiles, according to the criminal complaint. Wolf’s blood alcohol content allegedly was 0.124%, or more than 1½ times the legal limit.

He remains free after posting a $50,000 cash bond.

During a brief court appearance defense attorney Joseph Norby entered not guilty pleas on his client’s behalf. Amy Pautzke, assistant Brown County district attorney, served as prosecutor for the hearing.

Judge Michael T. Judge scheduled a pre-trial conference for Nov. 17, noting that by that time a new Oconto County district attorney will have been appointed. Gov. Tony Evers was accepting applications through Sept. 21 for the post left vacant when former DA Edward Burke retired Sept. 1.