UPDATE – 6/10 at 4:34 p.m.: Bond has been denied. A conference hearing is set for June 22. Pickett’s preliminary hearing is set for June 29.
UPDATE – 6/10 at 4:30 p.m.: All nine felony charges have been read. He says he understands the charges and the maximum penalties. A public defender will be appointed, but Pickett says he may replace that attorney at a later point. He wants to check with his parents first about cost.
UPDATE – 6/10 at 4:23 p.m.: Pickett appears to have no visual abrasions or injuries on his face. He is wearing the standard orange jail jumpsuit.
UPDATE – 6/10 at 4:21 p.m.: The hearing has resumed. Pickett is being arraigned at this moment, apprearing in front of Judge Richard A. Santoni.
ORIGINAL STORY:
KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — The man accused of striking nine bicyclists with a pickup along North Westnedge Avenue in Cooper Township is scheduled to make his first court appearance in moments.
Charles Pickett Jr. is scheduled to be arraigned at 3 p.m. However, an issue with the video hook-up from jail has delayed the hearing.
The 50-year-old Battle Creek man will face five counts of second-degree murder and four counts of reckless driving. Five were killed following the Tuesday collision. The four people injured remain hospitalized in Kalamazoo.
An unspecified medical issue prevented Pickett’s anticipated arraignment Thursday.
This is a breaking news story. We will provide updates when they become available.
