Judge Thomas Bianco yesterday granted a request by District Attorney Pat Dougherty to postpone James Brown’s homicide by vehicle trial to January, but that continuance requires a reduction in Brown’s bond, which will allow his release from the Indiana County Jail.
Brown is 34 years old. He was at the wheel of a car that crashed into Pikel’s Top Tier Fuels in Home in July of last year, running over a gas pump and into a building, which caught fire. A woman working inside the building, 52-year-old Melissa Myers of Commodore, was trapped and killed. Brown is charged with homicide by vehicle, while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, accidents involving death or personal injury while not licensed, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, two counts of driving under the influence, and a host of traffic offenses.
Judge Bianco reduced Brown’s bond from $250,000 to $50,000 unsecured, which means he does not have to pay it up front, but only if he fails to live up to its conditions. He’s required participate in the Pretrial Services Program and comply with all of its requirements, including living only at his home on Brickell Road in Rossiter. He must not leave Indiana or Jefferson County without court permission and cannot contact any witnesses or members of the victim’s family. He must also abstain from alcohol, illegal substances, or non-prescribed drugs and cannot operate a motor vehicle.
The new trial date is January 20th.
