Former ‘Bachelor’ Soules asking for criminal case to be dismissed

AURORA — The attorneys for former 'Bachelor' star Chris Soules have asked that their client's case be dismissed based on the 911 call he made to authorities.

In a nine-page brief field Monday, Soules' defense team argued that he met the requirements under Iowa law that govern what a person must do when involved in a fatal crash. The brief cites the 911 call Soules made shortly after the crash to support their claim.

'A recording of a 911 phone call placed by Mr. Soules provides real-time evidence that Mr. Soules unhesitatingly identified himself and his role in the accident to dispatch and tried his utmost to resuscitate Mr. Mosher,' the brief states.

Soules was arrested early on April 25 at his home in Arlington after a crash that killed one man in Buchanan County. The Iowa State Patrol said Soules was southbound on County Road W45 near Aurora around 8:20 p.m. April 24 when he rear-ended a tractor driven by Kenneth E. Mosher, 66 of Aurora. Mosher was later taken to Mercy Hospital in Oelwein, where he died, and Soules was arrested on one count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

However, Soules' attorneys said their client did not break the law.

The Iowa Code requires that a driver in a crash must provide identifying information and must 'render 'reasonable assistance' to anyone injured in the accident,' the brief states. Soules' attorneys said he could not provide his information to Mosher, but did identify himself to dispatchers and provided them with details on the crash. Soules' attorneys also said Soules checked to see if Mosher was conscious and breathing and administered CPR.

In the 911 call, Soules tells a dispatcher that he does not know CPR and the dispatcher offers to talk him through it. Soules can be heard on the call asking if anyone knows CPR.

Soules also indicated during the 911 call that Mosher had blood coming from his mouth, but had a pulse. He confirmed with the dispatcher that first responders were on their way before ending the call.

'Mr. Soules did not depart the scene until he was assured emergency personnel had the situation in hand,' the brief states.

Soules' attorneys also state in the brief that evidence will prove Soules was still on the scene when emergency responders arrived.

'Mr. Soules remained on the scene with those emergency responders for several more minutes before returning to his home,' the brief states.

It is unclear which emergency responders the brief is referring to.

Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Wolfgram said last week that when deputies arrived at his Fayette County home to talk to him about the crash, he refused to cooperate. Deputies — acting on the recommendation from the county attorney's office — sought a warrant for Soules' arrest. Soules complied when presented with the warrant, Wolfgram said.

The Buchanan County Attorney's Office has not yet filed a response to the brief.

Soules, 35, gained acclaim as a star on ABC's 'The Bachelor' in 2015 and has appeared on other national television programs and talk shows.

A funeral service for Mosher was to take place at 10:30 a.m. today at Geilenfeld Funeral Home in Oelwein.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com