When a person is arrested for DUI in California, they are taken to a police station to be processed. Often, they are held for a few hours or overnight. However, if a person is “booked,” three things may happen. The judge may release the accused driver on their own recognizance, allowing them to go free if they promise to show up for their court dates. The judge may set a bail amount. Depending on the circumstances of the DUI, bail can range from $5,000 to $25,000. If there is an accident that involves injuries or death, the bail can be even higher. In rare cases, the judge may order that the driver be held until trial.
KMPH reports that a crash has killed 19-year-old and the suspected DUI driver has had his bail increased.
On Thursday, April 30th, a judge ruled to increase the amount of bail for a man charged with vehicular manslaughter in the death of a 19-year-old.
26-year-old James Mitchell Anderson was allegedly under the influence when he ran a red light at the intersection of Chestnut and Nees in Fresno. He crashed his pickup truck into a Volkswagen Jetta. The crash killed 19-year-old Carson Gates, who was riding in the passenger seat.
The 17-year-old driving the Jetta was also injured.
Anderson was arrested on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol, and failure to stop at a red light.
The judge raised Anderson’s bail from a previously set amount of $254,119 to $400,000. The increase was due to the crimes which Anderson is currently accused and that he has a previous conviction of assault on a peace officer with a firearm.