A 27-year-old Salem man has waived a preliminary hearing, entered a not guilty plea, and demanded a jury trial when appearing in Marion County Court on Wednesday on a felony charge of aggravated driving under the influence filed in connection with a fatal accident in Salem last month.
A pre-trial date of August 2nd was set for Derrik Coomer of East Boone. His attorney, Troy Parrish, asked that a jury trial date not be set at this time.
The aggravated reckless driving charge claims Coomer was traveling at an excessive speed while pursuing a companion.
Coomer was released from the Marion County Jail after posting a $7,500 cash bond after his bond was lowered from $250,000 to $75,000 during a May 24th court hearing. As part of the conditions of the reduced bond Coomer was ordered not to drive, operate or possess a motor vehicle and abstain from the use of drugs, alcohol, or cannabis with random testing.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Justin Bullard of Iuka had his preliminary hearing continued until next Wednesday morning at 11 am. He has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death, aggravated street racing, and reckless homicide in connection with the death of 66-year-old Nita Mobley of Salem. State Police say Mobley was killed when her vehicle was struck by Bullard’s pickup while she was making a left-hand turn from West Main Street to South Hotze Road.
Bullard remains in the Marion County Jail in lieu of $1-million bond.
