Newport
Aaron Moeller’s defense team filed a motion for a new bail hearing last month, a development that came after Sullivan Superior Court Judge Brian Tucker revoked his bail in October.
During the hearing on Friday, Moeller’s attorney, Jay Buckey, said his client has had a chance to reflect while being incarcerated for the past four months. Moeller, who had a DUI conviction last year, is now sober and has a clear mind, Buckey said before asking Tucker to impose $5,000 cash or surety bail.
However, Jack Bell, the assistant Grafton County attorney who is prosecuting the case, urged Tucker to deny the bail request. He said he doesn’t believe Moeller is the changed man the defense said he is.
“I am going to deny the motion,” Tucker said at the conclusion of the brief hearing. “I am not convinced that the public would be safe or Mr. Moeller would be safe (if released).”
Moeller faces charges of homicide, manslaughter, reckless conduct and driving under the influence in connection with the September 2015 crash that killed Christa Osgood and injured Kenneth Lavigne, who were walking along Charlestown Road, also known as Route 12, at the time. Moeller was indicted in August by a grand jury in connection with the crash.
In a separate incident that occurred in May 2016, he was charged with and later convicted of driving under the influence, possessing a controlled drug and carrying a gun without a license. He was placed on probation for those offenses in July, according to court documents.
His mother told a reporter that the fatal crash “destroyed him” and led the former Stevens High School football captain down a dark road to other crimes.
After Moeller’s September arraignment on the indictments, Tucker released him on $20,000 personal recognizance bail with the understanding that he comply with his existing probation conditions.
Moeller, however, violated his probation when he tested positive for drugs twice that month, according to prior court proceedings.
As a result, Tucker revoked his bail in October, saying Moeller was a danger to the public.
According to the indictments, Moeller allegedly had been under the influence of oxycodone and/or clonazepam at the time of the fatal crash.
Several people filled the courtroom gallery on Friday, as they have throughout most of the case’s court proceedings, including Moeller’s mother, Gail, and several of Osgood’s relatives, including her father, David.
Moeller’s case is set to go to trial in April. A plea agreement was on the table in October. Asked after the hearing whether the plea bargain was still in the works, Buckey said he couldn’t comment.
Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.