Carlee Rose Bollig, 17 of Little Falls — the girl who was behind the wheel that killed two Becker residents last summer — was sentenced to a stayed prison sentence last Friday after she pleaded guilty Feb. 5 to vehicular homicide in the July 21, 2015 crash that killed Charles Maurer and his 10-year-old daughter, Cassy.
At Friday’s sentencing, family members and friends of the family were given the opportunity to give impact statements about a half hour before the sentencing time of 1:30 p.m.
Thirteen statements were presented to District Judge Tom Hayes and several were read aloud during the two-hour proceeding.
Judge Hayes gave a slow-versed, scathing review of the case in which at times he came across as a disillusioned father-figure, reminding Bollig of the vile nature of her crime, while telling her she is a lucky girl for not being tried as an adult.
“If this was an adult case, you’d most likely find yourself as part of the Shakopee prison environment,” he said.
Hayes seemed to be swayed by Bollig’s Attorney, Tom Richards’ statements in which he said “Carlee is remorseful and she thinks about her actions on a daily basis.” He went on to say she expressed to him how much she wished she was the one who died that day and with the unrelenting memories, “she already has a life sentence, reliving the horror every day.”
“We hear the family’s angst and loss and we know nothing can help to bring them back,” he said. “All we are asking is that my client be given a future and to find a way for everyone to move forward.”
Hayes issued the punishment, telling Bollig she will be on probation until the age of 21 with several stipulations. If violated, Bollig would serve her stayed prison sentence of 48 months for her first count and 69 months of her second count.
As part of her probation — in which she will be serving time at the Woodland Hills juvenile justice and help facility campus in Duluth — Bollig will be required to complete 240 hours of community service, with 10 percent of that dedicated to developing curriculum on safe driving and speaking to young drivers.
She will be required to go through a rehabilitation program that will offer her education, mental health and life skills. She’ll also be required to meet several conditions, including: no driving, no using drugs or alcohol and taking medication as prescribed.
Bollig pleaded guilty for her role in causing the July 21 crash at the intersection of Hwy. 10 and Co. Rd. 11 in Becker that killed 54-year-old Charles Maurer, and his 10-year-old daughter, Cassy. Maurer’s 16-year-old daughter and friend survived the crash but suffered serious injuries. Bollig and her three passengers were all injured but survived. Tests later revealed Bollig had been sending and receiving Facebook messages in the minutes leading up to the crash.
“He loved his kids and family more than words can express,” said Rhonda Maurer, Charles’ sister. “She (Bollig) shattered my world in a million pieces.”
The daughter who survived the crash, Alenita, spoke in a hushed voice before Judge Hayes in a room so quiet, all that was heard between her words were faint whimpers and sniffles.
“He doesn’t get to see me graduate or drive,” she said. “He doesn’t get to walk me down the aisle. He doesn’t get to meet his grandkids.”
Bollig refused to give a statement on her own during the hearing but Richards addressed the family on her behalf and issued apologies.
“I’m speaking on her behalf not because she doesn’t feel bad,” he said. “It’s not that she doesn’t want to say she was sorry. It’s just, circumstantially, just too tough for her right now.”
“It’s a tragedy. Nobody wins with this,” he continued.
When asked how he would describe his client through his eyes after Bollig has been raked over the coals in several social outlets, Richards said, “She’s not a monster. She’s a kid and kids do Facebook stuff and they do stupid stuff. Especially kids that don’t have a lot of monitoring.”
Richards continued as he fought back tears.
“She’s still a kid. And she hasn’t had a lot of life skills and hasn’t had a lot of people helping her out.”
“She was less than a week past 17 when this happened,” Richards said. “Maturity-wise, she’s not 17. She’s probably a lot younger than that. She hasn’t had a lot of life experiences.
Woodland Hills, located on a 140-acre campus in Duluth, specializes in mental health, community-based services, and juvenile justice programs for young people. They promote behavioral, mental and chemical health as well as physical well-being, while showing kids and young adults, parents and guardians they are not alone in the fight toward healthy, well-balanced lives.
With more than a century of experience, Woodland Hills’ private non-profit agency continues its mission of providing unwavering hope and opportunity for youth, families and communities.
