Deputy pleads not guilty in fatal July crash

La Crosse County sheriff's deputy Trisha Stratman (left) leaves the courtroom Feb. 14 after making her initial appearance on the charge of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle in the death of Brandon Jennings. Stratman pleaded not guilty to the charge Friday. (AP Photo/La Crosse Tribune, Erik Daily)

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — A La Crosse County sheriff’s deputy has pleaded not guilty in a crash that killed a 16-year-old boy last summer.

Deputy Trisha Stratman is charged with homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a felony.

According to the Wisconsin attorney general’s office, Stratman entered her not-guilty plea and was bound over for trial after a preliminary hearing Friday. Attorneys have until April 15 to file motions.

Stratman was on her way to stop a bar fight in Holmen early July 18 when her squad car collided with a car driven by Brandon Jennings. Jennings was thrown from his car and died at a hospital. The deputy was treated and released.

Stratman remains on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation.