Newstrack: Chadwick trial set for April

Background

Lawson Chadwick, 47, of Cedar Rapids, was charged last April with vehicular homicide in the death of Stephen J. Cook, a city employee who was thrown from a van, after Chadwick ran a stop sign and crashed into the van on 16th Avenue.

Chadwick is charged with homicide by vehicle while under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine as a habitual offender, homicide by vehicle while attempting to elude as a habitual offender and homicide by vehicle by reckless driving as a habitual offender.

Chadwick led police on a short high-speed chase and crashed into the van driven by Cook, a city of Cedar Rapids Water Division worker, at the intersection of 16th Avenue and Ninth Street SW after Chadwick ran the stop sign on April 17. Cook was thrown from the van and died the next day at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

What's happened since

Chadwick, who pleaded not guilty, asked a judge in December to move his trial to another county because of extensive pretrial publicity. He claimed the newspaper and Internet articles and television and radio coverage of his case has been extensive, and there has been so much speculation about his previous criminal history and treatment information that he cannot get a fair trial from an impartial jury.

The state argued Chadwick would be able to get a fair trial in Linn County because the coverage was factual and not pervasive.

Earlier this month, 6th Judicial District Chief Judge Patrick Grady denied the change of venue, saying the last significant coverage was in May. He added that he didn't find the coverage of the case to be that extensive or that it went beyond reporting what is alleged in support of the charges to prevent a fair trial.

Chadwick also was charged with a separate count of first-degree theft as a habitual felon and Assistant Linn County attorney Nic Scott asked the judge to consolidate the two cases because they involve the same facts and allegations.

Chadwick is accused of having stolen equipment, which was found in his truck at the time of the deadly crash. The property was valued at more than $10,000.

Grady on Friday consolidated the cases, which means Chadwick will be tried on all four charges in one trial.

Chadwick had been placed under a $100,000 cash bond on the vehicular homicide charges and a judge wouldn't decrease it during a bond review last May, but on Friday, he paid $110,000 cash and $20,000 surety bond for the theft charge. Linn County Jail officials confirmed he was released Friday afternoon.

Chadwick was out on bond for a separate drug charge last April when he crashed into Cook's van, according to court records.

Chadwick's trial is set for April 4 in Linn County District Court.