A Green Lake County man has been convicted in the crash that killed his mother after entering a no-contest plea this week to a reduced homicide charge tied to drug use behind the wheel.
Justen Poulson, 47, pleaded no contest to one count of homicide by vehicle with use of a controlled substance and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 8, 2026. The Oct. 3, 2025 crash at the intersection of Miller Road and County Highway A killed 68-year-old Kathleen Rebecca Lynn Leow and left Poulson and the driver of a dump truck injured.
As reported by FOX 11, Poulson entered the plea on Tuesday to the single count while five other charges, including homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, were dismissed in court. The station notes the plea followed a criminal complaint alleging Poulson had smoked marijuana the morning of the wreck. Court records cited by FOX 11 show sentencing is set for June 8.
Deputies say the collision happened when Poulson's pickup ran a stop sign and slammed into a northbound dump truck at Miller Road and County A, according to WBAY. That outlet reports investigators reviewed dash-cam video from the dump truck and concluded Poulson did not appear to brake or try to stop before impact. WBAY adds that the dump-truck driver was taken to a hospital for evaluation while Poulson was airlifted from the scene.
The criminal complaint quoted by FOX 11 says Poulson told investigators he "zoned out" while driving and admitted drinking about a six-pack the night before and smoking marijuana the morning of the crash. Prosecutors relied on those admissions to pursue the drug-related homicide count, the complaint indicates. Poulson was first charged after the October crash and later reached the plea agreement that led to Tuesday's conviction.
How Wisconsin law treats drugged driving
Wisconsin statutes and court decisions allow homicide-by-vehicle charges when a restricted controlled substance is detectable in a driver's system, a legal principle summarized in appellate rulings and case law commentary on the state's elements for the offense, per FindLaw. Local prosecutors note the offense is a Class D felony that can carry up to 25 years in prison and, in certain cases, a presumption of multi-year custody, language spelled out in district attorney materials that explain penalties for similar convictions.
What’s next
Poulson is due back in Green Lake County court on June 8 for sentencing, when a judge will decide punishment under the plea agreement and state law. Victim-impact statements and prosecutors' recommendations are typically part of those hearings, and any sentence will be reflected in public court records after the proceeding. Defense and prosecution filings ahead of sentencing may clarify whether the plea deal limits exposure to a particular range of penalties or leaves the full statutory term available to the judge.
