Not guilty plea entered in baby death case

A 38-year-old Rhinelander woman has entered a not guilty plea to one count of second degree reckless homicide in the May 2020 death of her four-month-old child.
Geana Terry entered the plea on July 17 at which time her attorney, Chip Stroud, also filed a request for a speedy trial. The trial must commence within 90 days from the date of the speedy trial demand, according to state statutes.
Terry, who has been in custody since last October, was originally charged with first degree reckless homicide. However, following a preliminary hearing in mid-April, the Oneida County district attorney’s office filed an information amending the charge to second degree reckless homicide.
According to court records and testimony from the preliminary hearing, a juvenile witness came forward in 2024 to report witnessing Terry smother the infant during the overnight hours of May 6, 2020.
According to the complaint, the juvenile witness disclosed this information to a trusted adult and that adult went to the police.

During the July 17 hearing, it was also noted that Stroud has filed a motion for in camera review of certain records related to the juvenile witness and the state has objected. A hearing on that motion was not immediately scheduled.
The parties told Judge Leon Stenz of Forest County they anticipate it will take five days to try this case. This information, along with the speedy trial demand, caused the court to announce that he would have to work with his judicial assistant to find time in his calendar. The clerk of court’s office also has to find courtroom space for a five-day trial.
Despite the speedy trial demand, Stroud did indicate the defense would be amenable to a January trial date, he indicated his intent was to “expedite” the case, but Stenz appeared intent on scheduling the matter to be completed within the next 90 days.
If convicted, Terry faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.