Zelie man's bond is maintained
EVANS CITY — A Zelienople man's other pending cases reinforced a judge's decision to maintain his bond.
Appearing for a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Jeffrey R. Coates, 34, of Zelienople, waived his right to a hearing for two cases.
On Oct. 6, Coates was charged with misdemeanors driving under a suspended license and drug paraphernalia possession, along with traffic citations. And on Nov. 3, Coates was charged with four felonies, including two counts of DUI, one count of drug possession and one count of fleeing and eluding.
Public Defender Ryan Helsel asked District Judge Wayne Seibel to reduce the bond in the more serious of the two cases. He said his client acknowledged the need for drug and alcohol treatment, and he asked Coates if he was seeking treatment.
“I had plans prior,” Coates said to the judge.
State Police Trooper David Wellington said Coates was due in court the day he was arrested, at which time he was traveling the opposite direction. He said it seemed Coates was not intending to appear.
Assistant District Attorney David Beichner cited other pending cases, including other drug charges, as cause for maintaining the bond.
“Bond reduction would put the public in danger without justification,” he said.
Seibel maintained the $50,000 bond on the Nov. 3 case and placed a new $5,000 bond on the Oct. 6 case, as Coates had yet to be arraigned on those charges.
“Too many red flags have gone up in front of me,” Seibel said.
According to charging documents, Coates' most recent charges stem from a Nov. 3 traffic stop on Evans City Road in Forward Township. Police said they received a call about a man who appeared to be intoxicated while driving.
“I attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Evans City Road in the area of Oak Lane, (but) the vehicle failed to yield, stop and pull over,” said Wellington in the affidavit.
Police said they executed a maneuver to pin the vehicle, which continued driving at the speed limit.
“I gave directions for Coates to exit the vehicle at gun point,” said Wellington in the affidavit. “Coates failed to listen and kept reaching around in his vehicle.”
Police said Coates later showed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests, and when he was arrested, they found five stamp bags containing white powder in his pocket. Police said they also found 17 empty stamp bags and 12 pills of Alprazolam in a hat on the passenger-side floor.
For the Oct. 6 case, Coates will next appear for a formal arraignment Jan. 4 in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas. For the Nov. 3 case, Coates' formal arraignment will be Dec. 20 in county court.
