Thursday, February 22, 2007

Trial planned in Poland

A man who fled while free on bail after a fatal traffic accident is scheduled for trial next month in Poland. Polish authorities refused to extradite Andrew Caesar Nowak, 49, a native of Poland who later became a U.S. citizen, but agreed to prosecute him there on five felony charges. He could receive up to 12 years in a Polish prison, court documents state.

Police said Nowak smelled of alcohol and was driving with a suspended license when his van ran a stop sign on Sept. 9, 2002, and crashed into a car. The other driver, William H. Mendenhall, 70, died.

Nowak was released on $25,000 unsecured bail but within days sold property valued at $430,000 and left the country, Assistant District Attorney Todd E. Brown said. Police found Nowak in Czestochowa, Poland, in 2004.

  • Note: Notice that he has been in jail in Poland for three years simply awaiting trial...
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