Elliott Dess, 21, appeared in court in shackles and an orange prison jump suit on Tuesday. Arrested for causing the death of bicycle courier Zachary Parke, Dess hoped the judge would lower his bail of $100,000. The judge refused, but Dess still managed to post bail later in the day.
Elliott Dess, 21, appeared in court in shackles and an orange prison jump suit on Tuesday. Arrested for causing the death of bicycle courier Zachary Parke, Dess hoped the judge would lower his bail of $100,000. The judge refused, but Dess still managed to post bail later in the day.
The courtroom was filled with friends and family of both Dess and his victim. Friends described Dess as a “caring individual” who panicked after hitting Parke from behind and later attempted to abandon his car after fleeing the scene of the crime. Parke’s mother challenged this in a statement to the court. “How can a caring person hit someone and leave him on the side of the road for eight hours?”
Dess faces a charge of vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal crime. If sentenced, he could face up to 14 years 8 months in prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 18. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
