A motorist accused of nearly hitting a bicyclist and crashing his vehicle into other cars during a DUI driving rampage through Palos Verdes last year remains jailed Wednesday while awaiting an Oct. 15 hearing to determine whether he will have to stand trial on 20 criminal counts.
William Thomas Kelly could face up to 15 years and eight months in state prison, along with two years in county jail, if convicted, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Kelly, 66, is charged with 10 counts of assault with a deadly weapon — his automobile, two counts of criminal threats and one count each of DUI causing injury and vandalism over $400, all felonies, along with six misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run driving.
Kelly allegedly ran a bicyclist off the road on Sept. 26, 2013, then backed his car over the bike and nearly striking the bicyclist, who had yelled at him. He then allegedly deliberately crashed his vehicle into other cars and drove straight at others that were not damaged.
He was found injured inside his damaged vehicle after ramming it through several locked fences, prosecutors said.
Kelly, who pleaded not guilty Tuesday, is being held in lieu of $520,000 bail.
— City News Service