ALFRED – Prosecutors have downgraded a charge against a Sanford man accused of a fatal hit-and-run crash last month from vehicular manslaughter to a lesser felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving death.
Cameron White, 20, appeared in York County Superior Court in Alfred on Wednesday to face the new charge and was allowed to remain free on $25,000 cash bail while the case against him is pending.
White is accused of striking a pedestrian, Kenneth Allen, 50, formerly of Old Orchard Beach, with his car near Willy’s Ale House on Route 109 on July 18 at 12:40 a.m., according to York County Sheriff William King.
Two witnesses reported Allen had just left the Ale House and was walking north on Route 109 when he was struck by a small car traveling north. The impact caused damage to the passenger side of the vehicle. A mirror from the car was left at the scene.
White surrendered at 9 a.m. on the same day Allen was struck. His 2001 light blue Dodge Stratus was towed to the sheriff’s office for examination.
White appeared in court before Justice John O’Neil Jr. with his attorney, Patrick Gordon, and was not required to enter a plea at Wednesday’s hearing because the charge against him is a felony. The next step will be for the York County District Attorney’s Office to present its case against White to a grand jury seeking an indictment.
Assistant District Attorney Kent Avery told the judge that his office has not yet determined whether to seek an indictment to restore the original vehicular manslaughter charge or whether to seek an indictment on the downgraded charge.
The charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Vehicular manslaughter is a Class A felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Scott Dolan can be contacted at 791-6304 or at:
Twitter: @scottddolan
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