(WKYT) – A bond hearing was held Wednesday for the man accused of driving a wake boat that collided head-on with a pontoon boat on Herrington Lake on the Fourth of July, killing one person and injuring several others.
Nazar Svintozelskiy was killed, his father Alec was severely injured and others were hurt when police say the head on crash occurred during the holiday on the Mercer County side of the lake.
Police say Cody Casey was driving the wake boat that crashed into the pontoon.
The hour-long hearing was requested by Casey’s attorneys, who asked that his $1 million bond be lowered and that he be placed on home incarceration.
Defense cites family, business ties
Casey’s attorneys argued that his daughter, his parents and his Harrodsburg business would motivate him to comply with home incarceration if released.
“He knows that if he is released, violates, he will be taken away from his daughter,” said Nick Nash, Cody Casey’s attorney.
Casey’s mother, Lynette Casey, said she would hold him accountable.
“I understand that. It would be in his best interest to follow whatever rules that are laid out. He will do that and I will make sure he does,” Lynette Casey said.
Prosecutors point to actions after the crash
Prosecutors said Casey’s actions on the night of the crash should keep his bond at $1 million. An officer testified there were questions about whether Casey was intoxicated, and said Casey left the scene of the crash. Investigators located him nearly seven hours after the crash occurred.
“We talked about this several times that, Mr. Casey did not listen to what he was told to do,” said Christian Cornett, a Fish and Wildlife officer.
Cornett said the belief is that Casey was intoxicated and fled to avoid being found while he was drunk.
“At that point we didn’t know Mr. Casey had gone to or where he was. No one knew…he had jumped off the golf cart,” Cornett said.
Text messages presented in court
Testimony also focused on text messages Casey sent and conversations he had following the crash, including a list and what officers described as possible instructions.
Officers said Casey obtained a new phone the Monday after the crash, but investigators were able to retrieve messages between Casey and an unknown person that included a list of names for someone identified as “Natasha.”
Cornett read part of the message in court: “In case sh** hits the fan, and I am incapacitated. A list of people who got big money and cash readily accessible. You didn’t make that cut, sorry, and laughy face. But under it is a list of OGs who got my back, the type that, like it, would need to kill someone, no questions asked.”
Prosecutors said Casey had several chances to comply the night of the crash but ignored them, and argued he tried to conceal evidence. Prosecutors said he should remain in jail.
The judge did not indicate how long it will take to issue a decision. Casey is due back in court in early November for a pretrial hearing.