Weaver bail set at $50,000

Edgar Lee Weaver Jr., driver of a motorcycle involved in an October 5 accident which killed a passenger, was arraigned at Mono County Superior Court in Mammoth Lakes on Monday and taken into custody.

His bail was set at $100,000 initially, but a bail review hearing on Tuesday reduced that number by half.

David Hammon, appointed Monday by the court as Weaver’s public defender, said his client is currently trying to arrange bail.

On Monday, Weaver arrived at the courtroom gaunt and thin, walked with a severe limp and relied heavily upon a cane. He was accopmpanied by his sister.

He pled not guilty to a single felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Weaver, who did not have legal counsel until Monday, was visibly shaken in  court when he learned that he would be taken into custody after the arraignment.

The court allowed him to make a trip home to get his insulin (he apparently is diabetic) before the hearing.

According to The Sheet story which appeared in the Oct. 11 issue, the 31-year old Weaver had offered Rebecca Anne Dempsey a ride home from a bar on his motorcycle on the evning of October 5.

Police Chief Dan Watson said Weaver may have been traveling at upwards of 80 mph at the time of the accident.

He failed to navigate a turn on Meridian Blvd. just past the golf course heading towards Eagle Lodge. The 21-year old Dempsey was thrown from the bike and died as a result of the injuries she sustained.

The speed limit on that section of Meridian Blvd. is 35 mph.

Weaver is a graduate of Mammoth High School and worked locally as a bartender. He also worked at Sierra Star Golf Course.

Weaver’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 13.