A New Jersey grandfather accused of killing his two grandchildren in a boating accident has been released from jail, a day after prosecutors revealed his blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit.
Stephen Schneider, 64, was released by Judge Wendel Daniels at an Ocean County court hearing on Wednesday. Prosecutors stated Schneider had a blood alcohol content of .16, double the legal limit of .08, when the incident occurred.
"The defendant consumed enough alcohol to reach a BAC of 0.16 and operate a vessel and the result was catastrophic," prosecutor Kate Burke said during the hearing, requesting that Schneider be held in jail pending trial. Schneider faces two counts of reckless vessel homicide/death by vessel.
Schneider told authorities he had consumed three beers over a two-hour period while having dinner with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and the two grandchildren.
Schneider's attorney, William Cunningham, argued for his client's release, stating that Schneider "will probably never be on a boat again... he will never be ingesting alcohol again... this has cut to the root of his family."
Cunningham also presented a letter written by the father of the children, who is Schneider's son-in-law, pleading for his release. The letter stated, "He's been there for our family in ways that words cannot fully express... he's a Wonderful father-in-law...I'm grateful for the way he loved my children."