The lawyer for the driver of a sport-utility truck that crashed into a washout on Freeborn County Road 34 last June, in which two people died, said he thinks a plea is likely.

The driver, Charles Kenneth Dennison, 20, of Albert Lea, was scheduled to appear in Freeborn County District Court Thursday afternoon with his lawyer, Cean F. Shands of West St. Paul. However, earlier that day Shands requested a continuance of the pre-trial court hearing so there could be more time to work out a proposed agreement, according to a representative with Freeborn County Court Administration. The hearing has been rescheduled for May 20 at 2 p.m.

Shands confirmed this by saying, “I believe we have a resolution of the matter. It is premature to tell you what it is because I haven’t run it by my client yet. But I suspect the matter is going to be resolved with a plea.”

Dennison faces nine counts of criminal vehicular operation and six counts of criminal vehicular homicide — all of which are felonies — stemming from events that took place the night of June 29. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in October.

Police reports say Dennison drove a 2003 Chevy Avalanche around the right side of “road closed” barricades on County 34 and 778 feet later was going 40 mph southbound when the sport-utility truck crashed into a washout, killing two passengers. The washout had been present on the eastern Freeborn County byway since heavy rains on the night of June 11.

Court files state Dennison — commonly called Kenny — was the driver that night, and his passengers were Nathan Buchli of Albert Lea in the front seat and four people in the back seat: Langdon Bachtle of Myrtle, Kelly Jo Abrego of Myrtle, Kelly John Pechumer of Albert Lea and Broc Dempewolf of Albert Lea.

Abrego and Pechumer died as a result of injuries sustained in the wreck. Abrego is Dennison’s aunt and her three children are his cousins.

The court files state Dennison’s blood-alcohol level was found to be a 0.16 level when measured via blood sample two hours after the crash. All of Dennison’s passengers in the sport-utility truck were also under the influence of alcohol, according to the files. They had gone to a town festival in Lyle from Myrtle and were taking a roundabout way from Lyle to Myrtle.

One conviction of vehicular homicide carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine. One conviction of criminal vehicular operation carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.