5:53 p.m.
Jeff Dupree walked into court Thursday with only a fifth of his sentence behind him, hoping Roanoke County Judge James Swanson would put the remaining 80 percent on hold.
Dupree was convicted of aggravated involuntary manslaughter and DUI for killing local construction worker Richard Slone in a drunk driving accident on Electric Road.
The noticeably pale and thin Dupree said nothing as his new attorney explained to the judge why he should go free.
Dupree’s camp argued by the time his appeal goes through the court system, he will have served the majority of his sentence.
Dupree’s mom was one of the more than 20 people in the small courtroom there to support him.
Slone’s family watched on as Judge Swanson, the same judge who sentenced Dupree to 2 1/2 years, let him out after six months.
“I’m going to grant the defendant’s motion,“ Swanson said.
While those words were a relief for one family, they were a dagger for another.
“We’re not very happy about it,” Slone’s sister Karen Bratton said. “First of all, Mr. Dupree has never admitted he was guilty of my brother’s death, which he was found guilty of.“
“Everyone keeps forgetting our brother died in this, and it’s all about are they going to get out based on a technicality and that’s what it boils down to for us.“
Dupree didn’t exit the Roanoke County courthouse with his family, but his family didn’t leave empty handed. They carried out a few of his belongings late Thursday afternoon, and there’s more to come, because the 34-year-old Dupree is going home pending his appeal.
After the hearing, Dupree was taken back to a correctional center in Powhatan. There is no word on exactly when he will be released, but his family tells us it will most likely be some time in the next day.
As a part of his bond agreement, Dupree will have to be tested for drugs and alcohol every day, he will have to live with his parents, and he is no longer allowed to drive.
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11:44 a.m.
From Lindsey Henley, in the field
WSLS Reporter
lhenley@wsls.com
Jeffrey Dupree the man convicted of a drunk driving accident that killed a local construction worker, is granted bond pending his appeal.
In February, a judge sentenced him to two and a half years in prison for his role in the death of Richard Slone.
Dupree has since filed notice with the Virginia Court of Appeals and Roanoke County circuit court to appeal the guilty verdict of aggravated involuntary manslaughter.
The judge did set some stipulations including no driving.
Ten On Your Side's Lindsey Henley was at today's hearing and will have much more on this decision tonight beginning at five.
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