On Monday, KWWL reported former Bachelor star Chris Soules was formally charged with an alleged hit and run resulting in death. Attorneys also told KWWL that this formal charge is the same as Soules' initial charge filed on Tuesday, April 25, when he was arrested and charged for allegedly fleeing the scene of a fatal car accident. The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office confirmed Soules' arrest and charge on April 25.
The formal charge against Soules reads as follows, according to KWWL,
HIT AND RUN -- DEATH RESULTING, a Class D Felony, in violation of Iowa Code Section 321.261(4), in that on or about April 24, 2017, in Buchanan County, Iowa, Christopher Douglas Soules did drive a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the death of any person and did not immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close as possible, and/or failed to return to and remain at the scene of the accident.
Soules' lawyers previously released a statement (which can be read in full below) that claims "Soules acted reasonably and did everything in his power to provide aid to Mr. Mosher [the deceased]."
KWWL reports law enforcement officers claim the 35-year-old left the scene before they arrived. The news outlet also reports that prosecutors allege Soules wasn't clear about what exactly happened regarding the accident on Monday, April 24 near Aurora, Iowa, including his "level of intoxication" and explaining the empty and open alcoholic beverages allegedly found in and around his truck.
Soules' preliminary hearing was originally set for May 10, but now that he has been formally charged KWWL reports that attorneys have said there will be no preliminary hearing. His arraignment is set for Tuesday, May 23.
On Monday, May 1, multiple outlets reported that Soules' lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the felony charge brought against their client. Per court documents obtained by Us Weekly, the reality star's attorneys alleged that there was no probable cause for a felony charge against Soules, claiming that he identified himself and his role in the accident to 911 and claiming that he remained on the scene with emergency responders after making the call. On April 26, Bustle received 911 audio from the sheriff's office showing that Soules called 911 after the accident.
On Tuesday, May 2, KCCI Des Moines reported that prosecutors responded to Soules' lawyers' motion to dismiss and argued against a dismissal of charges due to the court already determining "that there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed and the defendant committed it." Prosecutors also reportedly argued that Soules was not in compliance with the law since he allegedly did not "immediately return to the scene of the accident or inform the law enforcement authorities where he could be located."
Bustle reached out to the prosecutor regarding the report of the argument against dismissal, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
On Thursday, April 27, Soules' lawyers released a statement (via Just Jared). The statement reads in its entirety:
Chris Soules has retained attorneys Alfredo Parrish, Brandon Brown, and Gina Messamer of the Des Moines, Iowa law firm Parrish Kruidenier to represent him. Brown recognized the heightened level of interest because of Soules’ celebrity status, but asked that members of the public do not prejudge this case based on media coverage. Soules’ 911 call, released yesterday, proved that the initial knee-jerk coverage of this accident was incorrect.
While initial reports suggested Soules fled the scene, the 911 call confirms that Soules in fact was the one who contacted law enforcement immediately. During the call, he clearly identified himself and explained his role in the terrible accident. Soules attempted to resuscitate Mr. Mosher and remained on the scene with him until emergency medical personnel arrived. Soules’ attorneys are exploring the possibility of a gag order to prevent further misinformation from prejudicing Soules’ right to a fair trial.
Soules’ legal team is working to gather all of the evidence and review the facts of this tragic collision. They have already filed a demand asking law enforcement to preserve possible evidence and anticipate filing additional motions next week. His attorneys are confident that once all the evidence is made public, it will show Soules acted reasonably and did everything in his power to provide aid to Mr. Mosher.
Due to the nature of the pending charges, neither Soules nor his counsel will be making any statements at this time. Soules and his family request that their privacy and the privacy of Mr. Mosher’s family is respected. Everyone in this close-knit farming community is mourning Mr. Mosher’s passing. Soules offers his sincere condolences to the Mosher family.
On May 3, a rep for Soules released the following statement to Bustle:
Neither Mr. Soules nor his legal counsel will be responding to the numerous tabloid style articles and journalists who have been reporting false and misleading stories by citing "unnamed sources." Rather, they will be focusing on presenting the truth, which will reveal how inaccurate and unfair so many of these news accounts have been. We are confident that the fair-minded citizens of Iowa will do what they’ve always done – reserve judgment until all of the accurate information is properly presented.
The Buchanan County Sheriff's released the following press release to Bustle last Tuesday:
On Monday, April 24, 2017 at approximately 8:20 pm, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 report of a motor vehicle accident with injuries in the 1000 blk of Slater Avenue (W45) north ofAurora. According to the investigation, a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Christopher Douglas Soules, 35, of Arlington was southbound on Slater Avenue when he struck the rear of a southbound John Deere 2640 tractor operated by Kenneth Eugene Mosher, 66, of Aurora. The collision caused the tractor to go into the east ditch. Soules’ vehicle went into the west ditch. Mosher was transported to Mercy Hospital in Oelwein where he was pronounced dead. Soules was uninjured in the accident and left the scene of the accident prior to law enforcement arrival. Soules was located shortly after at his residence located in the 7500 blk of B Avenue in near Arlington in Fayette County. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the Buchanan County Jail, where he was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Fatality Motor Vehicle Accident (class D felony). Soules bonded out of the Buchanan County Jail on a $10,000 bond on Tuesday morning, April 25, 2017.No other information is being released at this time pending the continued investigation into the cause of the accident. Due to the on-going investigation, further charges may be pending. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this incident by the Iowa State Patrol, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Aurora Fire Department and Oelwein Mercy Ambulance Service.
