A New York judge has approved a $500,000 bond for a metro Atlanta man who has been in jail for 17 months on charges of vehicular homicide in the death of a city bus driver, the New York Times reported.
Domonic Whilby, who last worked as a forklift driver in Griffin, had a bail hearing Friday in the death of bus driver William Pena. While a judge ruled he was entitled to a $500,000 bond or a $250,000 cash bail, Whilby did not make bail immediately, the newspaper said.
Whilby, 24, is a nephew of the actor and model Tyson Beckford, the newspaper said. Beckford, 44, is known as Ralph Lauren Polo model and was host of both seasons of the Bravo TV program “Make Me a Supermodel.”
Whilby has been jailed since he was arrested Feb. 12, 2014. Prosecutors contend he stole a truck after a night of partying at an upscale club in Manhattan and was driving under the influence when he ran a red light and collided with a bus driven by Pena.
Whilby’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit, investigators said.
Whilby told investigators he could not remember stealing the truck or the collision, according to court papers. He described a night of partying with Beckford on Feb. 11, court papers said.
His trial is expected to start this fall, the newspaper said.
