MINDEN, Nev. (AP) - A Minden man charged with four misdemeanors involving a rollover accident that left one man dead is asking a judge to restore his driving privileges.
Jerett McAlister, 26, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of vehicular manslaughter, driving without due care, driving left of center and failure to wear a seat belt.
Christopher Medina, 22, Gardnerville, was killed in the July 15 accident.
According to authorities, McAlister was driving a Jeep Wrangler about 30 mph when it hit a rough, dirt portion of Power Dam Road. He lost control overturned twice, with the vehicle coming to rest on its side.
McAlister, Medina and another passenger, Dakota Bonfiglio, 21, were not wearing seat belts and were ejected, authorities said.
Police reports said McAlister had a blood-alcohol content of .032, below the legal limit of .08 for driving. He tested negative for drugs.
During his arraignment, Justice of the Peace James EnEarl appointed attorney Derrick Lopez to represent McAlister, who said he could not afford to hire a lawyer.
McAlister, under supervision of Carson City drug court, told EnEarl he had been sober for 130 days, and had been released from probation in Carson City on an unrelated charge.
He asked EnEarl to restore his driving privileges, but the judge told McAlister to bring proof that he's off probation and has permission from Carson City to drive.
Douglas County Deputy District Attorney Tom Gregory said McAlister had convictions in 2001 for minor consuming and driving under the influence, as well as possession of drugs and stolen property. Gregory said a 2002 DUI charge against McAlister had been dismissed.
"I'm not real crazy about him driving," Gregory said.
"The state has raised some concerns about your driving," EnEarl said. "You don't have the best of track records. You indicated you're trying to turn that around. I don't know if you're going to be convicted of these charges, and somebody died."
He set McAlister's next court hearing for Dec. 9, but told him he could return sooner if he has the paperwork from Carson City.
McAlister remained free on $500 cash bail.
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Information from: Gardnerville Record-Courier, http://www.recordcourier.com
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