Va. Beach man free awaiting retrial in fatal crash

VIRGINIA BEACH

A 23-year-old man awaiting a retrial in the drunken-driving death of his friend is to remain free on bond, a Circuit Court judge ruled Monday.

Prosecutors had asked Judge Frederick B. Lowe to revoke Cameron Paul Crockett's bond after police recently charged Crockett with obstructing justice and using profane language over a public airway.

Police accused Crockett of leaving a threatening telephone message Aug. 1 for a witness subpoenaed to testify in his retrial on charges of involuntary manslaughter and drunken driving, prosecutor Kari A. Kopnicky said in court.

Kopnicky argued Crockett was a danger to the witness and said this is the third time prosecutors have tried to revoke his bond. The first two attempts alleged Crockett violated his curfew, she said.

Crockett's attorney, Andrew Sacks, said his client made a mistake by leaving the message but did not intend to hurt anyone. He's been out on bond for 33 months since the Dec. 28, 2008, crash that killed his friend, former high school volleyball star John "Jack" Korte Jr., and mostly has complied with his release conditions, Sacks said.

The judge said he didn't have sufficient information regarding the new charges to justify revoking Crockett's bond but agreed to rehear the matter if prosecutors present additional evidence.

A jury in May convicted Crockett of involuntary manslaughter in Korte's death, but Lowe declared a mistrial after jurors could not agree on a sentence to recommend. Crockett's new trial is scheduled for Nov. 1.

Crockett now also is accused of trying to coerce the witness, who was subpoenaed but never called to testify in the first trial, Kopnicky said in court. Crockett claims the witness was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash on Wolfsnare Road, Sacks said. Others called to testify have disputed that claim.

Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com