‘Bachelor’ star Chris Soules to go to trial in 2018

INDEPENDENCE - The trial for former 'Bachelor” star Chris Soules has been scheduled for next year.

Soules, 35, is set to go to trial on a charge of hit and run resulting in death on Jan. 4, 2018, according to an order filed earlier this week. Soules has pleaded not guilty to the felony, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The Arlington native was arrested April 25 at his home after an April 24 crash near Aurora that killed Kenneth Mosher, 66, of Aurora. Authorities said Soules was driving south on County Road W45 around 8:20 p.m. when he rear-ended a tractor driven by Mosher, who died at Mercy Hospital in Oelwein.

According to court documents, 'empty and partially consumed open alcoholic beverages” were found in and around Soules' truck when first responders arrived on the scene. Soules was seen purchasing alcohol before the crash, as well, according to court documents. However, Soules' defense team has said two separate urine and blood samples were tested by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory and were negative for drugs or alcohol.

Soules' attorneys also have said their client fulfilled any legal obligations by reporting the crash and attempting to tend to Mosher before leaving the scene in another vehicle. He was not taken into custody for several hours after the crash.

According to court documents, Soules intends to file a motion to dismiss in the near future. A hearing on that motion has been set for Oct. 10,

An initial pretrial conference also has been set for Nov. 16 and the final pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 4. The trial is expected to last four to five days.

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