Judge imposes more bond conditions on man accused in fatal accident
Dubois County Superior Court Judge Mark McConnell added additional conditions to the bond agreement imposed on the Huntingburg man charged in the traffic fatality of a Perry County woman in September.
Brandon Chamberlain, 24, of 6178 W. State Road 64, was arrested on a warrant charging him with Level 4 felony driving while intoxicated causing death; Level 4 felony operating while intoxicated causing death with a blood alcohol content greater than .15 percent; and Level 5 felony driving while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury.
The judge ruled this morning on the Dubois County Prosecuting Attorney’s office motion to increase Brandon Chamberlain’s bond from the $10,000 originally imposed to $100,000.
Judge McConnell denied the increase from the previously set $10,000 cash only bond, but he did impose additional conditions on Chamberlain that he must adhere to as conditions of bond.
- He must abstain from consuming alcohol and drugs.
- He must submit to and pass random drug and alcohol screens.
- He must attend counseling at Southern Hills.
- He must be hooked up on and wear a SCRAM alcohol monitoring device.
- He must adhere to the license suspension imposed by the BMV, and, if the case has not been resolved until after the initial 180 day license suspension is lifted, he is only allowed to operate a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device.
According to deputy prosecuting attorney Beth Sermersheim, the prosecuting attorney’s officer would have liked to see Mr. Chamberlain’s bond increased to ensure the safety of the community, but these additional conditions will help to ensure that Chamberlain does not consume alcohol and operate a motor vehicle while these charges are pending.
Details of the accident and the subsequent investigation can be found here.
The prosecuting attorney’s office had asked the judge to consider increasing the bond due to Chamberlain’s history of past offenses.
He pleaded guilty in March 2013 to drunken driving and was sentenced to probation. He was also required to wear a transdermal alcohol detection device (SCRAM ankle bracelet) for 60 days.
