Just a week after notifying the Indiana County Court system that he wishes to file a petition to suppress evidence in the homicide by vehicle case against him, James Eugene Brown yesterday sent another notification to the court, saying he wants the charges against him dismissed and that he wants to be released from jail immediately on nominal bond.
Brown is accused of being at the wheel of a car that crashed into Pikels Top Tier Fuels last July, running over a gas pump and smashing into the building. The car and building burst into flames, trapping and killing 33-year-old Melissa Myers of Commodore, who was working at the gas station. Brown claimed another man, Michael White of Punxsutawney, was driving the car but later admitted to state police that he was driving and had taken heroin and smoked marijuana beforehand.
Brown just turned 34 years of age on Sunday and is listed as being from Rossiter, although he was originally said by police to be homeless. He is charged with six felony offenses, including two counts of accidents involving death or personal injury while not licensed and single counts of homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, and aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI. There are also two misdemeanor DUI charges and nine summary traffic offenses.
His latest “pro se correspondence”, like last week’s, was forwarded to the Indiana County Public Defender’s office for review. He is being represented by attorney William Stephens Jr. Brown is scheduled for Criminal Call on Friday.