ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. – The widow of fallen South Carolina State Trooper Dennis Ricks delivered an emotional statement in court Friday as the man accused of killing her husband appeared for a bond hearing on new charges of reckless homicide.
Accused Driver Faces Reckless Homicide Charge
Authorities say 45-year-old Anthony Aydlette struck Trooper Ricks with a box truck on August 10 while driving on a suspended license. Sheriff Leroy Ravenell confirmed that investigators took nearly 20 days to carefully review the case before upgrading the charge.
Bond was set at $225,000, payable in cash or by surety. Civil attorney Franklin McGuire, representing the Ricks family, noted Aydlette had been unable to post bond on earlier charges and is unlikely to afford the higher amount.
“So now that bond is $225,000, it would lead me to believe that he will not be able to post this either. I think I may have preferred if he had just had bond denied, but that said, I know the court is doing the best they can with what information they have,” McGuire said.
Sheriff: “He Did Everything Wrong”
Sheriff Ravenell defended Trooper Ricks’ actions that day, saying the officer followed proper procedure while Aydlette drove recklessly…