A deputy Porter County prosecutor stated that a young man charged with causing the death of an 18-year-old woman in a crash in Porter Saturday has shown a “disdain” for the law in his conduct with two prior pending cases in Lake County.

It’s why Deputy Prosecutor John Holmen asked Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Buitendorp to set a $50,000 cash bond for Austin Emery Thornton, 18, of Crown Point, during Tuesday’s hearing via video feed from the Porter County Jail.

Saelor Guistolisi, who graduated this month from Crown Point High School, died in the wreck.

Defense Attorney Robert Varga countered by saying that the prosecution’s request was excessive and argued that his client had cooperated with the Lake Superior Court in two prior cases. He asked that the bond be set at $5,000 cash.

“It might as well be $500,000, a young man like him can’t possibly post,” Varga argued.

Judge Buitendorp settled on setting a $25,000 cash bond, finding that Thornton was a danger to himself and the community and in need of supervision.

She also instituted pretrial court supervision and drug and alcohol testing if Thornton can post bond.

Much of Tuesday’s hearing was spent reading the 10 charges that Thornton faces. The charges include a Level 4 felony of operating while intoxicated causing death; Level 5 felonies of reckless homicide, criminal recklessness, driving while suspended causing death and Level 6 felonies of driving while suspended causing bodily injury and reckless driving.

There were also four additional misdemeanor charges dealing with driving while intoxicated, driving with a suspended license and a minor consuming alcohol.

The most serious charge carries a 2- to 12-year sentence. A not guilty plea was entered on all the charges.

Thornton is accused of becoming enraged when the pickup truck he was driving was passed by a smaller car on U.S. 12. As a result, he recklessly accelerated and passed the car and then lost control by U.S. 12 and Waverly Road, according to the charges.

Guistolisi, a backseat passenger, was thrown from the vehicle, suffering a fatal head injury, court documents say. Thornton was also found to have a blood alcohol of 0.063%, which resulted in the intoxication charge because he is underage.

Holmen noted that Thornton had posted bond in two prior cases in Lake Superior Court, which are still pending. Holmen said that Thornton also had his license suspended because he failed to appear in court twice for traffic infractions.

The pending felony charge for criminal confinement, a Level 5 felony, stemmed from a Jan. 20 incident where Thornton and friends were retaliating for a prior “road rage” incident, Holmen said.

Thornton had used his pickup truck to block a car parked in a McDonald’s restaurant, while his companions, who are also charged in the incident, battered the victim. He posted a $4,500 cash bond after his Feb. 25 arrest in that case.

Then there was an April 15 “tumultuous incident” with law enforcement at a Cedar Lake boat launch, where a crowd had gathered to do “burnouts” with vehicles, Holmen said.

Thornton was “uncooperative” and was “constantly baiting and taunting” a Cedar Lake Police officer and a conservation officer. As a result, Thornton was charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. He posted a $250 cash bond.

“While out on bond on two separate matters, you would think that would be a low point and a moment of reckoning to get his act together,” Holmen said.

Varga said that he was unaware of Thornton failing to appear in misdemeanor traffic cases. He said that Thornton had shown respect for the court process in the other two cases.

And in the criminal confinement case, Thornton was a co-defendant in the case. Varga said that Thornton had local ties and was not a danger to flee.

Geisen Funeral Home in Crown Point is in charge of funeral arrangements for Guistolisi.

Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.