Halethorpe man pleads guilty in high-speed DUI crash that killed passenger

A 21-year-old Halethorpe man pleaded guilty Tuesday in Baltimore County Circuit Court to felony negligent vehicular manslaughter in a crash that killed his passenger.

Jacob Dean Szczeszek, who was 19 at the time of the crash, admitted causing the Jan. 13, 2025, collision that claimed the life of 20-year-old Max Raymond Bowen.

Police said Szczeszek was under the influence of alcohol and cannabis and driving about 95 mph in a 30 mph zone seconds before he lost control of his father's Chevrolet S-10 pickup around 2 a.m.

The truck struck a traffic island on Frederick Road near South Beaumont Avenue before crashing into a stone retaining wall and rolling onto its driver's side, according to police.

Bowen died from injuries suffered in the crash.

Neither of the truck's occupants was wearing a seat belt, according to police. Bowen was ejected through the passenger-side window, while Szczeszek was partially ejected.

Szczeszek suffered serious injuries and was treated at University of Maryland's Shock Trauma Center.

A Baltimore County grand jury indicted Szczeszek Sept. 22, 2025.

Crash investigators concluded that Szczeszek caused the collision by driving under the influence of intoxicants and failing to control his speed. A forensic toxicologist estimated Szczeszek's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to be between 0.18% and 0.20% an hour after the crash, according to the prosecution.

In Maryland, the legal limit for drivers 21 and older is 0.08%. For drivers under 21, the limit is 0.02%.

Assistant State's Attorney Felise Kelly said Szczeszek's parents did not know he had left the house that night. Kelly said the two young men met around 10 p.m. and spent the evening driving around Catonsville. Bowen purchased alcohol at a liquor store in Halethorpe before the crash, Kelly said.

Negligent vehicular manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Under the plea agreement, Szczeszek will waive any home detention credit he has earned before sentencing, which is scheduled for Sept. 29.

The prosecutor in the case is recommending a sentence of 10 years, with all but 18 months suspended, to be served in the Baltimore County Detention Center. If imposed, the sentence would be followed by five years of supervised probation. Violating probation could result in Szczeszek serving part or all of the suspended portion of his sentence.

Kelly also is asking the court to prohibit Szczeszek from driving or consuming alcohol or drugs while on probation. The State is also seeking $24,791.92 in restitution and compensation for Bowen's burial expenses.

Defense attorney Joseph Murtha remains free to argue for a lesser sentence at the Sept. 29 hearing.