A imprisoned Grove City man saw felony charges withdrawn as he waived his right to a preliminary hearing Monday in a local case.

Malachi M. Graham, 26, appeared virtually before District Judge Joseph Nash in Courtroom 5 at the Butler County Government Center. The venue was changed because of technical aspects pertaining to the virtual connection with a state correctional facility.

Graham is in state prison in Rockview, Mercer County, where he has been since pleading guilty to misdemeanor flight to avoid apprehension for an incident in August 2021. He also has an unpaid $25,000 bond on the local case filed by state police on Dec. 7, 2020.

Graham was accused of driving drunk when causing a vehicle crash Sept. 9, 2020. Police also claimed to find synthetic cathinone, also known as “bath salts.”

On Monday, Assistant District Attorney J.P. Kulzer agreed to withdraw some of the most serious charges lodged against Graham, including one felony count of aggravated assault by vehicle and two counts of drug possession.

A third felony count of drug possession will be amended to be a felony count of drug sales instead. Also, Graham still is charged with misdemeanor DUI, drug paraphernalia possession and a number of traffic violations.

Kulzer said the alleged victim failed to appear for the hearing, whose testimony could have supported the charges.

Graham’s attorney, Anthony Jackson, said he will continue to work with prosecutors to find an appropriate resolution.

“It sounds like an unfortunate incident,” Jackson said.

Graham is scheduled to appear for May 9 for formal arraignment in Butler County Common Pleas Court.