When Judge Thomas Bianco this month granted a prosecution request to postpone the homicide by vehicle trial of James Brown, it kicked in a state statute requiring a reduction in Brown’s bail amount from $250,000 to $50,000 unsecured. Yesterday, that bond was posted.
The 34-year-old Brown was driving 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. His trial has been moved to January 21st. As a condition of his bond, Brown is 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.
