Trial set in crash case

SANDPOINT — A jury trial is set for a Seattle man accused of crashing into another boat broadside following an Independence Day fireworks display at Priest Lake.

Todd Frederick Stauber’s trial in Bonner County Magistrate Court for negligent operation of a vessel is set for Jan. 3, 2013. He is pleading not guilty to the misdemeanor offense.

Three people aboard Stauber’s 18-foot Supreme ski boat were injured after it collided with a 32-foot cabin cruiser in Luby Bay. Stauber told investigators he was doing about 10 miles an hour when he crashed into the other boat amidships.

Stauber, 38, is accused of failing to have a proper lookout, driving too fast for conditions and failing to steer clear of another vessel.

Grossly negligent operation of a vessel is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $300 fine.

A pretrial settlement agreement in the case is pending.

In exchange for a plea of guilt, the prosecution has agreed to recommend a $300 fine, restitution, a suspended 10-day jail sentence and a year of unsupervised probation, according to a pretrial settlement proposal. Stauber would also be granted a withheld judgment, which would void the conviction upon completion of his court-ordered obligations.