Jewkes' preliminary is continued to March

SUBLETTE COUNTY – The Sublette County Circuit Court preliminary hearing for Jade S. Jewkes, 28, of Jackson, is once again rescheduled from Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the request of her attorney.

Defense attorney John LaBuda filed a motion for continuance and the preliminary hearing is now set for March 1 at 9:30 a.m. in Circuit Court. At a preliminary hearing, a judge determines if there is enough evidence to bind a felony case over to 9th District Court.

Jewkes is charged with two counts of aggravated homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol after being involved in a fatal collision in Hoback Canyon on Jan. 1.

The two vehicular homicide felonies filed by Sublette County Attorney Mike Crosson both resulted from the death of Shane Deal and are based on varying degrees of alleged alcohol intoxication. Jewkes was driving north on Highway 191 on the afternoon of New Year’s Day and others on the road reported her erratic driving across the two-lane highway, according to court records.

Driving a 2015 Jeep Cherokee, she collided nearly head-on with Deal, who was driving a 2005 plow truck in the southbound lane. The Jeep’s airbags and seatbelt protected Jewkes from serious injury – she suffered minor cuts to her hand. The truck did not have airbags and Deal, although wearing a seatbelt, was very seriously injured and later died.

Jewkes was released to her parents on $150,000 cash or surety bond. She is not allowed to drive, travel outside of Teton County or contact Deal’s family.