GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A defense attorney requested a hearing Wednesday in Gaston County asking for a lower bond for the man accused of causing a deadly crash but instead, it more than tripled.
The prosecutor was happy to have the judge review the case because he wanted to bring up past charges against the suspect and ask for a higher bond.
David Pope is accused of hitting and killing James Mitchell on Jan. 28 while he was walking home along New Hope Road.
Mitchell’s fiancée missed the hearing but was elated when she learned the judge tripled Pope’s bond to $500,000.
She said Mitchell had walked to a store, near their home on South New Hope Road.
Mitchell was about five minutes from home when Pope’s attorney said Pope drove off the road and hit him.
Pope’s attorney also said a blood test revealed that meth was in his …