By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.comA Rowan County District Court judge has increased the bond for a Rockwell man awaiting trial on multiple charges of driving while impaired.
Danny Lee Peeler Jr. 49, was in court on a probation violation from a previous DWI conviction and a separate DWI case from 2008.
Court officials said Peeler has a total of three DWI cases pending, along with other traffic offenses. All three involved traffic accidents with property damage but no injuries.
Previously, officials had said there were four cases pending.
Assistant District Attorney Michelle Monk requested that Peeler’s bond be raised to $25,000 pending disposition of the cases and the probation violation.
Peeler’s attorney, Greg Jones, argued that Peeler’s family has taken away his access to cars and he won’t be driving anymore. “The vice has been taken away,” Jones said. “The vehicle has been disposed of.”
Jones said Peeler’s family has posted assets to cover his bond and Peeler has made five court dates since last August dealing with the July 2008 charges.
Judge Beth Dixon increased the bond on two DWI cases from $1,000 to $5,000 during district court Tuesday. Peeler had already posted $5,000 bond on the April 14 DWI charge.
Dixon said bond serves the purpose of ensuring court dates are kept as well as ensuring public safety. She left open the possibility that the bond could be hiked again.
While dealing with the bond issue, the state made no progress in dealing with the DWI and related traffic offenses.
Monk said her office has not received the blood tests results in the cases but has asked for expedited results.
Jones said the lab results will show that all the cases involve prescription drugs, not alcohol.
Judge Dixon set a new date of June 2 to deal with the probation violation and the 2008 charges.
Peeler has two other court dates this month, May 15 and May 28, dealing with charges from Feb. 23 and April 14 incidents.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.