A Naples woman accused in the deadly wrong-way drunken crash that killed a senior citizen will remain in jail without bond despite the defense’s plea for her release to enroll in rehabilitation.
Genise Taylor, 24, faces charges of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, DUI causing property damage and reckless driving causing damage to property or another. The March 18 crash killed 96-year-old Arthur Ward Gilbert, of Naples.
Two of Taylor’s relatives sat in court June 29 and waved as she was escorted into the courtroom, then switched from the left to the right aisle of the courtroom, sitting along the first row behind Taylor and defense attorney Joshua Faett.
About two months after Collier County Judge Deborah Cunningham denied bond during a pretrial detention hearing, Faett, on May 20, filed a motion for reconsideration.
In court on June 29, Faett reiterated that Taylor had a residential program lined up and asked for other conditions, including a GPS monitor and an alcohol monitor.
Faett said Taylor has no car and that her driver license was revoked after the crash, so she has no means to reoffend.
In her response, Assistant State Attorney Mara Marzano told Collier Circuit Judge Joseph Foster that the state filed a pretrial detention motion, adding that the deadly crash is a dangerous crime.
Marzano said Taylor faces 15 years for the DUI manslaughter charge as well as more time for the other charges.
“His life ended because of her behavior that night,” Marzano said. “The weight of the evidence is overwhelming in every way.”
Marzano said several videos captured the crash. She later added that Taylor has access to rehabilitation programs while in custody.
A traffic stop and a suspicion of alcohol
Marzano said evidence has uncovered that Taylor spent time at Mercato, in Naples, drinking alcohol in the hours that leading to the crash.
About two hours before the crash, Collier County sheriff’s Deputy Eric Pellegrino stopped Taylor after he clocked her driving 71 mph through a 45 mph zone.
According to the sheriff’s office, Pellegrino conducted field sobriety exercises on Taylor before he issued her a citation for speeding. He elected to turn Taylor and her vehicle over to a friend about 2:50 a.m.
An internal affairs probe cleared Pellegrino of wrongdoing. He was accused of negligence.
Marzano in court June 29 said a friend of Taylor drove her in his van to a nearby Waffle House while another friend drove Taylor’s car to the restaurant.
According to Marzano, Taylor’s friend “testified there was no doubt she was drunk.”
“It is clear to me from watching the video that she is under the influence,” Marzano said about the taping of Taylor’s interaction with Pellegrino.
After her friend and his acquaintance finished eating, Marzano said, they offered to drive Taylor or get her an Uber home, but she declined because she didn’t want to leave her grandmother’s car.
Instead, Marzano said, Taylor drove the car toward her home during the wee hours of March 18.
At the Interstate 75 ramp along Golden Gate Boulevard, Marzano said, Taylor fell asleep for more than 30 minutes before she was woken up by another car.
Marzano said evidence shows Taylor was headed in the right direction on I-75, but as she attempted to merge, she struck a median and entered the oncoming traffic lanes.
“It just simply is dangerous for her to be out and drive,” Marzano said.
“This is more punishment than protection of the community,” Faett said before Foster upheld Taylor’s pretrial detention.
Foster said the defense’s proposal means Taylor could leave a voluntary treatment facility at any time, which would require the state to use resources to locate her and she could find access to a car to reoffend before authorities took her back into custody.
Taylor is next due in court Sept. 24 for a case management conference.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@usatodayco.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
Alexa Ryan is a reporter for Naples Daily News. You can reach her by emailing Alexa.Ryan@naplesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Judge upholds pretrial detention for Genise Taylor in fatal wrong-way crash
Reporting by Tomas Rodriguez and Alexa Ryan, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
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By Tomas Rodriguez and Alexa Ryan, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
