Pilot Accused Of Manslaughter Bonds Out

The pilot facing first-degree manslaughter charges, after three people died when his plane crashed into Grand Lake Saturday, was back in court Wednesday.<br/><br/>Brent Caldwell has bonded out of Delaware

Wednesday, December 20th 2006, 11:19 am

By: News On 6

The pilot facing first-degree manslaughter charges, after three people died when his plane crashed into Grand Lake Saturday, was back in court Wednesday.

Brent Caldwell has bonded out of Delaware County jail after a judge reduced his bail to $150,000 from $300,000, saying he is not a flight risk.

News on 6 reporter Chris Wright was at the hearing Wednesday.

"If a judge tells him to appear at a preliminary hearing or appear at anything, that's what he's going to do because he is reliable and he's responsible," attorney Chris Lyons said.

A Delaware County judge agreed with that assessment of 30-year-old Brent Caldwell, cutting his bail amount in half Wednesday.

Caldwell bonded out shortly after the hearing, and will not have to return to Jay until his next date in court at the end of January.

During the hearing, Caldwell's stepfather and father took the stand to address the pilot's character, saying he is responsible man. His lawyer also stressed that the Pryor native has no criminal record.

"Mr. Caldwell also has absolutely no record at all, which is always a critical point the district attorney will address if in fact there is a history. Mr. Caldwell has no history," Lyons said.

Authorities say negligence on Caldwell's part may have caused the death of the other three people in the plane with him Saturday. 15 year old Mariano Carlos of Pryor, 20 year old Eduardo Ortiz Robles of Mexico, and 33 year-old Campos Gonzalez of Mexico, were killed when Caldwell's single-engine Viking crashed near Disney.

Investigators discovered that Caldwell did not have a valid pilot's license and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol says he was under the influence of alcohol Saturday. Still, his lawyer contends that while tragic, Caldwell cannot be held accountable for the crash.

"This is a tragic accident, that's what it amounts to, three people lost their lives, it is serious, but it is an accident, there was no intent to injure by anybody," said Lyons.

The reduced bond did come with some stipulations. Caldwell cannot leave Oklahoma, and he must talk to his bondsman every day. He also cannot be in the presence of any alcohol or drugs.