Justin Whaley
Justin Whaley, 37, turned himself in on Tuesday, and faces charges including vehicular homicide from a deadly accident on Highway 111 on July 3.
The accident happened in the early morning hours, when Whaley was driving the wrong way and hit a car driven by James Brumlow. Mr. Brumlow was killed.
Whaley has cooperated with the investigation, but had not been arrested until he turned himself in.
He is charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication, DUI, reckless driving, due care, speeding, driving on divided highways and failure to yield right of way.
He appeared in Judge Barry Steelman's court on Tuesday, where his bond was lowered from $600,000 to $50,000. District Attorney Neal Pinkston wondered why the bond reduction hearing was happening so soon, wondering if Whaley was getting special treatment.
Judge Steelman said it was because Whaley had no criminal record and was not a threat.
Defense attorneys are Lee Davis and Gary Gerbitz.
Mr. Davis released the following statement on Tuesday:
"There was no special treatment of Justin Whaley. He was treated fairly, as all men and women should be treated, when faced with an accusation made by the government. Justin Whaley has been cooperating in this investigation since this tragic accident occurred on July 3, 2018. He called 911, remained at the scene, and spent hours with police at the scene of the accident. He was not charged with a crime on July 3 or at anytime during the past two months. Last night, after the courts closed, Soddy Daisy Police approached a Sessions Court Judge and obtained a bond of $600,000 against Justin Whaley, a man with no criminal record. Today Gary Gerbitz and I appropriately asked for a review of that bond, a bond that we believed was excessive, as soon as the courthouse opened this morning. Justin Whaley tuned himself in to Hamilton County Deputies today. It is appropriate for lawyers to seek reasonable bond on warrants. All people are presumed innocent under the United States Constitution and that presumption carries through the setting of a bond. A bond is not punishment. It is to be set so that a court is assured that the person will come to court and to safeguard the public. We asked Judge Barry Steelman to review the bond and set a reasonable bond with appropriate conditions of release. That is what happened today."
Whaley formerly worked for Hamilton County EMS and as a voluntary reserve deputy for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.