New Jersey Grandfather Accused in Deadly Boat Crash Has Not Agreed to Plea Deal

A New Jersey man accused of operating a boat while intoxicated in a crash that killed two of his grandchildren has not yet agreed to a proposed plea deal, according to developments at a September 15 court hearing.

Stephen Schneider, 64, is accused of operating a boat while intoxicated when it struck a channel marker in Berkeley Township, New Jersey, on July 19, 2026.

The crash resulted in the deaths of two of Schneider’s grandchildren, Mya Bella Golabek, 9, and Sigmund Paul Golabek, 7.

Prosecutors have proposed a plea agreement that would involve two consecutive five-year prison sentences, for a total of 10 years behind bars.

However, Schneider’s attorney told the court during the September 15 hearing that the defense had not yet agreed to the proposed deal.

The attorney said there were still numerous documents that needed to be reviewed before the defense could make a final decision.

Prosecutors also acknowledged that it could be too early to finalize a plea agreement, leaving the proposed deal unresolved for now.

Schneider remains under pre-trial supervision as the case continues through the court system.

He is scheduled to return to court on November 16, 2026, when the case is expected to proceed.

The proposed sentence is therefore not a final punishment at this stage. Any plea agreement would still have to be formally accepted through the court process, and Schneider remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until he is convicted or enters a guilty plea.

Source: Daily Mail