BEULAH -- A Thompsonville man allegedly was drunk when he caused a crash that killed Benzie Central High School teacher Katherine Wolterink.
John Lee Burchett, 26, is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, driving with a suspended license causing death and third-offense drunken driving, Benzie County Prosecutor Anthony Cicchelli said.
The first two charges carry a potential 15-year prison sentence. The drunken-driving charge is a five-year felony. District court officials Friday were unsure when Burchett will be arraigned.
Cicchelli said he soon plans to charge Burchett as a habitual offender.
"I'm waiting for verification of his prior convictions from the courts of his past crimes," he said. "If he has three prior felonies, he could face up to life in prison."
Burchett remains at Munson Medical Center where he was upgraded to fair condition late last week, hospital officials said.
Cicchelli said Burchett's blood-alcohol level early Sept. 24 was .17, more than twice the legal limit, when he crossed the center line on Cinder Road and slammed head-on into Wolterink's vehicle as she drove to work.
Wolterink, 60, was trapped in her burning vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Craig W. Elhart, Burchett's attorney, acknowledged the charges, but declined to discuss details.
"I haven't even seen a police report yet," he said.
Burchett was released from prison in April after serving nearly four years for two home-invasion convictions. He did not have a valid driver's license at the time of the crash.
Burchett's driving history begins in 1998 and shows entries for two drunken-driving convictions, open intoxicants, several crashes, speeding and a host of other infractions, according to the Secretary of State's office.
