No Bond Reduction For Accused Hit & Run Driver
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OAKLAND PARK (CBSMiami) – The man accused of a fatal hit and run crash in Oakland Park in May asked a judge to reduce his $1 million bond.
The judge said no and it was the words from the victim's family that may have played heavily into the judge's decision.
Scott Roman is accused of hitting Joe Deverson, who was riding a go-ped, and leaving Deverson on the road.
"He is a danger because he has no remorse and he has no conscience," said Dawn Ione Deverson, the stepmother of Joe Deverson. "Scott Roman left our Joe on the side of the road to die. He never slowed down and he never contacted the police."
Investigators say Roman drove to the million dollar condo he shares with his husband and asked a valet to help fix his car. Roman says he was passed out drunk in his car and that someone drove him home but prosecutors say there's no evidence of that.
Prosecutors say Roman is a flight risk and that he recently traveled to Cambodia and talked off possibly liquidating his assets.
Prosecutors played several phone calls Roman made from jail including one where he apparently references the trip.
"This is terrible I shouldn't have come home," Roman is heard saying on the call.
Judge Barbara McCarthy said she felt Roman's bond should remain at $1 million.
"This court finds that Mr. Roman is a danger to the community," she said.
Deverson's friends and family cried as they listened to Judge McCarthy's decision. They hope the ruling sends a message to the community.
"It's happening every day," said Dawn Ione Deverson. "I turn on the news and there's another hit and run and people need to address that. Things like this is what hopefully is going to make a change in the future."
Roman is expected back in court later this year. If convicted of leaving the scene of an accident involving death, Roman could face up to 30 years in prison.
