Formal Charges Filed Against 18-Year-Old In Vehicular Homicide Case
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - An 18-year-old accused of driving drunk and causing a deadly accident last week now faces formal vehicular homicide charges.
In a quick hearing in Arapahoe County Thursday morning, Taden Jones learned that he faces eight charges including two counts of vehicular homicide, reckless driving and driving under the influence.
Jones waived his right to have the charges against him read in court so the judge set went ahead and set a date for a preliminary hearing. Officials are awaiting Jones's toxicology report, which is expect to take more than a month, so he will not be seen again until June 21.
At that hearing, the court will review the preliminary evidence to see if there is probable cause for the case. If the judge finds that there is, he'll bind it over to district (felony) court, assign a judge for the case and set it over for arraignment. At the arraignment Jones will enter a plea.
According to court documents, Jones was driving with a fake license on April 1 when he tried to pass another vehicle "at a high rate of speed" near Colorado Boulevard and Arapahoe Road in Centennial. The crash that resulted killed two women.
The victims, Carolyn Burton and Gayle Buckwalter, were best friends.
The arresting officer saw a message on Jones' cellphone that said, Who do you get your weed from?"
Jones remains out of jail on a $100,000 bond.