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Saturday, May 18, 2013 | 9:32 a.m.

Posted: 5:23 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2013

Man charged with DUI causing death seeks bond reduction; Victim’s family opposes

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By Josh Eachus

OHIO COUNTY, W.Va.-- A man charged with killing one woman and seriously injuring another in a crash last November appeared before a judge Monday morning to ask for a bond reduction.

 

John Lance Hatfield is currently being held on $250,000 bond.

 

Police said his pickup truck crashed into Nicole Gray's car early on Nov. 11, killing her passenger, 39-year-old Stephanie Stahl.

 

Several family members and friends of the victim filled the courtroom to oppose Hatfield's request for a lower bond and supervised work release to support his family in Arkansas.

 

"She also had a job. She also had family. And we miss her very much. As far as this young man is concerned, I don't think he should be released on any kind of a bond, because he is a threat to society," said Stahl’s father to the courtroom Monday morning. "I'd wish that you would re-consider and not give him bond, and not reduce his bond, because my daughter has no choice. Thank you sir."

 

NEWS9 also obtained a copy of the full police report from the night of the crash. It has details of Hatfield's behavior as officers spoke with him on scene. He declined some field tests, telling officers to just arrest him. Tests later that night would reveal Hatfield to have a blood alcohol level as high as a .234 percent.

 

"I'm not inclined to make any reduction. I'm being very honest with you and the bail amount. There is a fine line in being punitive and for the purposes of bail," said Magistrate Judge Harry Radcliffe.

 

After court, Hatfield was returned to the Northern Regional Jail.

 

Radcliffe told NEWS9 that the court is not planning to reduce the bond amount, but a final decision on that and the trial's preliminary hearing date will be made official in the coming days.

 

Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.

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