Stephen Schneider, 64, has rejected a 10-year prison offer in connection with the drunken boating crash that killed his two young grandchildren. During an Ocean County Superior Court hearing Tuesday, Schneider was offered five-year sentences for two counts of death-by-vessel, to be served consecutively.
Schneider's defense team indicated they are not yet in a position to discuss a plea agreement, with attorney William Cunningham stating, "We're waiting patiently for most of the discovery and it's going to be a long time coming."
Schneider is accused of fatally crashing his boat on July 19 in Berkley Township, resulting in the deaths of his grandchildren, 9-year-old Mya Bella Golabek and 7-year-old Sigmund Paul Golabek. The children were thrown from the boat and died despite wearing life jackets. Authorities allege Schneider was intoxicated at the time of the incident, with his blood alcohol content reportedly measuring 0.16, twice the legal limit.
Schneider surrendered to Berkley Township police following the 9 p.m. accident. He was allegedly operating his 30-foot Tidewater 280 center-console motorboat when it struck a channel marker while en route to take the grandchildren home after a family dinner.
Despite the allegations, Schneider's son, who is the father of the deceased children, had previously pleaded for his father's release, a request that was granted. The case remains ongoing as the legal process unfolds.