A pretrial hearing for a construction worker who may be culpable in the death of a Hillsborough minor was held on Wednesday at the Orange County Courthouse.

Judge Joe Buckner presided over the hearing and read Alejandro Suarez his rights before setting a trial date for him. An interpreter was utilized to translate Bucker’s statements into Spanish for Suarez, who participated in the hearing from the Orange County Jail.

Suarez was arrested on December 26 after a truck at a construction site in the Forest Ridge subdivision rolled downhill into a house. That incident resulted in the death of Everett Copeland, a five-year-old boy.

A magistrate’s order issued for Suarez on the day of his arrest states that he may have “left [the truck] unattended without first stopping the engine and effectively setting the parking brake.” His offense was listed on his release order as “misdemeanor death by vehicle.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement put a detainer on Suarez under suspicion that he may be in the country illegally. He was unable to present proof of identification to arresting officers, which led to a secured bond of $10,000 being set for him.

Suarez is due back in court on January 9. His last court appearance was nine years ago in Harnett County for “DWI Level 4.”

Related Stories
‹
Memorial Service Held for Hillsborough Minor Killed in Accident
A memorial service was held on Friday in Hillsborough for Everett Copeland, a local minor who died on December 26 from injuries sustained in a construction accident. The service was hosted by newhope Church, a contemporary Christian ministry based in Durham whose congregation includes the Copeland family. At the church’s campus in Hillsborough, relatives of […]
Trial Date Set for High School Guard Accused of Sexual Abuse
A trial date has been set for Randy Sam Bradford, a former security guard at East Chapel Hill High School who was arrested on December 21 over allegations of sexual abuse. Judge Joe Buckner set the conditions for Bradford’s pretrial release on Thursday at the Orange County Courthouse. Those conditions included having no contact whatsoever […]
Issiah Ross Argues Self-Defense In Double Murder Trial; Prosecution Wraps Testimony
Issiah Ross took the stand Wednesday to share his own testimony and defense in the trial over the 2022 deaths of two teens in Orange County.
Police: Hillsborough Commissioner Matt Hughes Facing 2nd DWI Charge in 2 Years
Matt Hughes, who serves on the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners, faces a DWI charge stemming from the early hours of Tuesday, Oct. 8.
After Review, Orange County Says Boom in Hillsborough Was 2.2 Magnitude Earthquake
UPDATE: On Friday, the Orange County government said the U.S. Geological Survey completed a review and determined the loud noise ultimately was a small earthquake.
N Carolina Trial into Partisan Gerrymandering Wrapping Up
A three-judge North Carolina panel was considering Friday whether politicians can be too extreme in drawing legislative voting districts to their advantage, a judgment the U.S. Supreme Court refused to make about congressional elections. The judges start deliberating at the end of a two-week trial examining North Carolina legislative districts that redrawn in 2017 to […]
El Centro Launches Fundraiser to Cover Legal Fees of ICE Detainees
Advocacy organization El Centro Hispano has organized a fundraising campaign to help cover the legal fees for 10 individuals recently arrested by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Orange County. The ICE raids have sparked fear and anxiety among the immigrant community in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and across Orange County. El Centro is hoping to raise […]
ICE Arrests Causing Concern in Orange County Immigrant Community
Carrboro’s mayor is addressing concerns over ICE arrests being carried out in the town and throughout Orange County. Mayor Lydia Lavelle said in a release that it is believed Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials have “detained at least two Carrboro residents and at least four other county residents.” The first word of the arrests came […]
Hillsborough Officials Announce Temporary Water Pressure Increase
Town officials in Hillsborough are advising residents to be aware of pressure changes in the water system that are likely to manifest during a utility transition period scheduled for this week. Due to recent water line improvements, a shift in service sectors will take place beginning on Monday for customers in the Forest Ridge subdivision […]
Hillsborough Mother Charged with Leaving Infant Behind After Wreck
A Hillsborough woman is facing felony charges after fleeing the scene of an accident and leaving her 15-month old child strapped in the back seat. 27-year-old Tiffany Utsman made her first court appearance on Friday afternoon facing charges of felony negligent child abuse causing serious physical injury, felony hit and run involving injury, and Driving […]
›