KENTON COUNTY, Ky. -- A decorated soldier from the War in Iraq appeared before a Kenton County judge Friday morning, charged with causing the crash that killed his friend.
Riley Ealy, 26, of Crescent Springs, appeared in court via video for his arraignment.
Ealy is accused of speeding and driving drunk when he lost control in the 1900 block of Amsterdam Road early Thursday morning.
His passenger, James Fry, 25, died at the scene.
The Purple Heart recipient, based out of Fort Campbell, told the judge he was due back to his base on the fifth of September.
Ealy's attorney, Paul J. Dickman, asked for his $100,000 bond to be lowered but the judge denied the request.
"His bond is $100,000 cash because I have no faith the Army is going to return him because I've been down that road with the military before and they sort of thumb their nose at the Kenton County District Court. So I have really no hope in that his release he will be returned back to the Commonwealth of Kentucky," said Judge Ken Easterling.
Easterling said he would reconsider the bond if a military representative came before him in person.
Dickman told the judge Ealy, who is married with four children, suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2008 in Iraq.
Ealy's brother, who was also injured in the accident, could post a 25,000 property bond, according to Dickman.
