Bobby Ray Hancock, 41, will remain in jail while awaiting trial in a manslaughter case unless he posts some $300,000 in bail.
He was arrested on Feb. 2 for contempt of court by violating his release agreement.
Hancock is charged with first-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence and tampering with physical evidence in connection to the death of Victoria Sophia Richards, 40, in a motorcycle crash on Foster Dam on Sept. 17, 2011.
A caller reported a motorcycle and debris in the roadway, but no victims were present. Sweet Home Police officers and paramedics arriving at the scene searched and located the Hancock and Richards on the west face of Foster Dam, near the access road at the bottom.
According to police reports, the motorcycle was leaning against the east guardrail.
During the investigation, police learned that the motorcycle was southbound on Foster Dam Road, and evidence indicated that Hancock had been driving, said Police Chief Bob Burford. The motorcycle struck the west guardrail and crashed.
A medical examiner told police that Richards was killed instantly.
Police said that between the time the crash occurred and their arrival, the motorcycle had been moved to a position where it was leaning against the east guard rail and Richards’ body had been moved off the roadway, over the guardrail and down the embankment on the dam face.
Sweet Home Police Department Det. Cyndi Pichardo said Hancock was arrested after violating his release agreement, for consuming alcohol and frequenting an establishment where alcohol is consumed.
“I had received information on a couple of different occasions that he had been frequenting several local area bars in violation of his release agreement,” Pichardo said. The SHPD and Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Pineway Lounge on Feb. 2 and contacted Hancock.
Hancock forfeited the $25,000 security he had posted for release, Pichardo said, and now he must pay a full $300,000 in addition to $25,000 in bail for the contempt charge.
He had been released on Oct. 26, 2011.
Hancock was scheduled for trial beginning on Feb. 5. The trial was postponed to Aug. 12. Hancock’s next court appearance is an arraignment on the contempt charge on Feb. 21.