MONTVILLE — The $750,000 bail for a motorcyclist involved in a fatal accident while allegedly fleeing a robbery in Montville was upheld today when he was judged to be a serious flight risk. Arguing to maintain the bail, the prosecution said defendant Michael Yodice had obtained two Florida driver’s licenses with two addresses on the same day. Yodice, 22,...
Michael Yodice appears on closed circuit TV for a bail hearing in Superior Court in Morristown today.MONTVILLE — The $750,000 bail for a motorcyclist involved in a fatal accident while allegedly fleeing a robbery in Montville was upheld today when he was judged to be a serious flight risk.
Arguing to maintain the bail, the prosecution said defendant Michael Yodice had obtained two Florida driver’s licenses with two addresses on the same day.
Yodice, 22, formerly of Parsippany, listed addresses in both Bradenton and Orlando, both in Florida, according to an affidavit signed by Montville Police Sgt. Andrew Caggiano.
Arguing for the high bail, Assistant Prosecutor David Bruno said Yodice was charged with death by auto, eluding police, along with robbery and aggravated manslaughter — all factors making him seem a serious flight risk.
Superior Court Judge Philip Maenza, sitting in Morristown, agreed to maintain bail at $750,000.
Bruno said Yodice "appears to be from out of state," adding he has a "pending disposition deferred out of Florida."
Yodice, who appeared in court today via a video hookup from Morris County Jail, is scheduled for another court appearance on Oct. 5. He has not yet retained an attorney.
Yodice’s passenger on the motorcycle, Christopher Vielee, 21, of Pine Brook, died in the crash. Vielee was thrown from the motorcycle in a turn that Yodice had approached at an estimated 80 mph, authorities have said.
The men were trying to escape police after a robbery around 1:40 a.m. Thursday at the 7-Eleven store at the corner of Changebridge Road and Stiles Lane, authorities said. A surveillance video showed Vielee used a rifle in the holdup, according to Caggiano’s affidavit.
Yodice also had a prior record, according to court documents. While living in Parsippany, he was charged in 2008 with a narcotics offense in Passaic County and with burglary and receiving stolen property in Morris County.
The narcotics offense was remanded to a municipal court, while the burglary charge was administratively dismissed and the receiving-stolen-property violation was merged, according to court records.
Previous coverage:
• Motorcycle driver in fatal Montville crash is charged with manslaughter
• Suspect in Montville convenience store robbery dies in motorcycle crash