Man suspected of providing drugs in overdose death appears in court

CHIPPEWA FALLS — A Holcombe man charged with providing drugs that resulted in a fatal overdose appeared in court Monday.

Casey C. Schueneman, 43, 25120 260th Ave., and Crystal K. Crouse, 36, of Conrath, were each charged in April in Chippewa County Court with first-degree reckless homicide — party to a crime, along with bail jumping. Schueneman’s charge specifically included delivery of drugs; Crouse’s charge does not have that provision. She is slated to return to court on July 31.

Schueneman appeared in court Monday before Judge James Isaacson, who set a new preliminary hearing date for Aug. 26.

Isaacson previously ordered Schueneman be held on a $50,000 cash bond. Defense Attorney Kirby Harless requested the bond be lowered, but Isaacson rejected that request. If Schueneman posts bond, he cannot have any contact with co-defendants or witnesses in the case or possess any illegal drugs.

Crouse was previously released after she posted a $10,000 cash bond.

According to the criminal complaints, Crouse and Schueneman supplied meth to an unidentified person, who died on March 11 from an overdose.

Law enforcement were called to 300th Avenue in the town of Ruby for a pulseless, non-breathing male located near the road. EMTs were unable to revive him.

Deputies observed signs of recently-engaged intravenous drug use on the deceased male’s left wrist and in his elbows.

An officer interviewed a friend of the victim, who said the victim had called him and “sounded distressed and short of breath.” The person found the victim lying in the ditch. The victim was still hot, so his friend took the victim’s jacket off in an attempt to cool him off. Deputies found a syringe 27 feet from the victim’s body. It tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. More meth was found inside a backpack belonging to the deceased male.

Deputies interviewed Schueneman and Crouse on March 26, who admitted to meeting up with the victim and his friend on March 11, and “they were aware of the presence of what they thought were illegal drugs during the meeting.”

Schueneman was already on active bonds in cases in Dunn and Rusk counties. In Rusk County, he is charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct. In Dunn County, he is charged with fleeing an officer, obstructing an officer, and disorderly conduct.