| Updated: 1/26/2012 11:46 am |
Published: 1/25/2012 9:12 pm
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Two Nowata County families are furious tonight after a judge set’s what they call a “ridiculously low” bond for the woman accused of being drunk behind the wheel of a truck that crashed.
That crash killed Dalton Lawson and Daniel Hathcoat in November, but charges were only filed days ago because prosecutors needed to get blood work back.
At a bond hearing Monday, Autumn Parrish, who is charged with two counts of Involuntary Manslaughter and Leaving the Scene of an Accident, received a bond of $2,500 from Nowata County Judge Carl Gibson.
“There (were) other cases, like breaking and entering and they were getting higher bonds than her. Everyone was surprised when the judge came back with a $2,500 bond for her,” Mary Lawson, Dalton’s mom, told FOX23 Wednesday.
Daniel's family is just as upset.
“$2,500 on two manslaughter charges involving alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident where two people died,” Dwayne Hathcoat said.
He was so mad that when he heard the judge say that number, “I stood up and I said, ‘Jesus Christ,’ and I walked out of the courtroom.
The families expected bond to be set between $50,000 and $150,000. Parrish's attorney, who told FOX23 he was not comfortable, commenting on this story, told the judge his client was not a flight risk.
“This girl owns no property here. She (doesn’t) own a car. She doesn't have any children. She (doesn’t) have any reason to be here except to face these charges,” Hathcoat said.
“They're saying that she's not a flight risk, but she left the scene of an accident,” Mary Lawson said.
FOX23 attempted to talk to Judge Gibson about the family’s anger, but the judge did not take out call. The District Attorney for Nowata County says he believes the bond for Parrish should be higher, but that decision rests solely with the judge.
“It worries me a lot,” Mary said. “I am thinking, if she just got off with $2,500 dollars who's to say she's not going to walk?”
Both families will wait for Parrish’s next court date on March 5th.
“My motto is, ‘Justice for Daniel and Dalton,’ I am not worried about what's going to happen to Autumn right now,” Lawson said. She also told FOX23 she is so appalled the bond amount the judge set that she has contacted Mothers Against Drunk Driving.