Judge will not reduce bond for Lawson Chadwick, remains $100,000 cash 

CEDAR RAPIDS - A judge said Thursday she will not reduce or increase the bond for Lawson Chadwick, charged with three counts of vehicular homicide.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Mary Chicchelly said during a bond review that the $100,000 cash bond set last month was appropriate. If Chadwick, 47, of Cedar Rapids, is able to post bond, he would be required to be under the supervision of the Department of Corrections and be required to enter drug treatment.

Chadwick is charged with homicide by vehicle while under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine as a habitual offender - Class B felony, homicide by vehicle while attempting to elude as a habitual offender and homicide by vehicle by reckless driving as a habitual offender - both Class C felonies. Chadwick led police on a short high speed chase and crashed into van driven by Stephen J. Cook, a City of Cedar Rapids Water Division worker, at the intersection of 16th Avenue and Ninth Street NW after Chadwick ran a stop sign on April 17.

Cook was thrown from the van and died the next day at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Chadwick also faces a first-degree theft charge in connection with stolen equipment found in his truck at the time of the crash. According to the police, the property was valued at over $10,000.

Todd Weimer, Chadwick's attorney, asked the judge to reduce the bonds to $10,000 each on the Class C charges and $25,000 on the Class B in accordance with the bond schedule. Weimer said he thought a total of $75,000 cash or surety would be appropriate.

Weimer said Chadwick may not have the money for bond, but his family members may be willing to help. He also said Chadwick needed to have medical treatment and he would enter drug treatment if he was released from jail.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Nic Scott asked the judge to increase the bond to $250,000 cash only, in light of the added vehicular homicide under the influence charge added last week. He then pointed out Chadwick's lengthy criminal history including of possession of controlled substances, two precursor charges, two theft charges, and the fact that Chadwick was out on bond from a drug charge when this crash happened.

'He is a graduate from drug court, so I don't think he's a strong candidate for treatment,” Scott said.

Chadwick also will file written not guilty pleas to the charges today.