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Show 'i . .' ij ; L 1 - r- r Richard James Fire Suspect Stages No-Show at Trial A bench warrant was expected to be issued Tuesday, November 29, for the arrest of Richard James, the stuntman whose out-of-control pick-up truck struck a gas line at the Mt. Air Cafe in early October, causing an explosion explos-ion and fire that gutted the popular restaurant. Judge Brent Gold told the Record early Tuesday afternoon that the warrant would be issued by the end of the day unless he received an explanation of why James missed a November 22 deadline for appearing in Gold's court. James was charged with . driving under the influence and failing to maintain control of a vehicle in connection with the accident, and was originally scheduled to face trial November 17. When James failed to notify the judge whether he would be appearing at the trial, City Attorney Nick Colessides filed a i motion that the trial be held in the defendent's absence. Gold said James called him from California the morning of the scheduled trial and claimed that he had been in another accident and had sustained a broken leg. Gold then granted a continuance of the trial on the condition that the defendent appear before Gold by November 22. That was the last time James was heard from, said Gold. He said he "would have no choice" but to honor the city attorney's motion, find the defendant guilty, and issue a warrant for his arrest if no contact was made by late Tuesday. Gold said the guilty verdict could be overturned at a later date if James presented a reasonable explanation for failing to appear, but in the meantime the defendent's driver's license will be revoked in both Utah and California, based on a cooperative agreement between the two states. Gold explained that the bench warrant also means James can be arrested "any time, any place." The accident and ensuing fire caused over $200,000 damage to the Mt. Air Cafe and gutted 70 percent of the building in the early morning hours of October 8. According to reports, James' truck swerved off the road, entered the west end of the restaurant's parking lot and slammed into the main gas line. James, who was dragged from the vehicle by police but received no serious injuries, later told the Record he was "completely sober" at the time of the accident. He blamed an oncoming car, which allegedly crossed the center line and forced James to swerve out of control. |
