Nikole Babb nbabb@cherryroad.com
After extradition from Indiana, a man from Louisiana is facing three homicide and two aggravated battery charges as a result of a wreck that took three lives in June.
According to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Tyler James Beauclaire, 24 years old, was reportedly driving eastbound on HWY 400 just outside of Leon on June 11 when he crossed the center line, striking a vehicle in the opposite lane. Traveling westbound in the vehicle that Stucky struck was 46-year-old Eliot Eichbauer, 19-year-old Arlo Eichbauer and 16-year-old Silas Eichbauer, who were pronounced dead at the scene.
Traveling with Beauclaire were two occupants, both of which were injured during the incident and transported to a Wichita hospital. Once Beauclaire was released from the hospital, he traveled back to his home state of Louisiana and was found later in Indiana near Indianapolis where he was arrested on July 9.
He was transported to the Butler County Jail on July 18.
During his first appearance on Monday, July 21, Beauclaire was assigned a $1 million bond. When Chief Judge David Ricke asked the District County Attorney Darrin Devinney why charges were delayed for about a month, Devinney explained that many reports needed to be filed.
Devinney said that with multiple hospitalizations, many reports needed to be gathered, including toxication reports and cell phone records. All the while Beauclaire had traveled back to Louisiana and sold all of his property and belongings with the intent of moving his family.
Beauclaire informed Judge Ricke that all of his property was already planned for sale so he could move his wife and children to live permanently in Wichita. He claims he was on a job duty when he was arrested in Indiana and requested a lower bond due to his cooperation during the investigation and willingness to cooperate throughout the court process.
“The court notes that this is a very serious matter,” said Judge Ricke. “Three homicide charges, two presumptive prison aggravated battery charges as well. The report has some information before it that would suggest Mr. Beauclaire had apparently taken steps which this court would construe as trying to abscond or avoid capture. Therefore, the court considers him a considerable run risk.”
Despite Ricke’s response, Beauclaire pressed further, stating he now has a newborn baby to take care of and provide for, which is the reason he traveled to Louisiana to witness their birth.
“I do have a wife and kids at home that I’m the main bread winner for,” said Beauclaire. “And my wife has a newborn baby who’s a month old. I want to be able to support my family during the due process of this case.”
Judge Ricke denied Beauclaire’s request for a lower bond and recommended him to consult his attorney for further action.
“You made promises to the court that you’ll do this and you’ll do that, but the reality is that at this point the court is going to stay with its original order and establish bond at $1 million at cash or professional surety required,” said Judge Ricke.
If Beauclaire does post bond, the conditions of his bond will be:
-GPS monitoring to ensure he doesn’t leave the state of Kansas
-Confinement to the state of Kansas
-He must appear in person for all court appearances at the Butler County judicial center
Before the hearing ended, Beauclaire wanted to clear up the charges for Judge Ricke and inform him that the homicides were accidents as a result of a DUI wreck. Judge Ricke informed him that it doesn’t change the charges and that the prosecuting office deemed it necessary to file them as they are.
His next court appearance will be on August 27 at 2:30pm in front of Judge Charles Hart for a preliminary hearing.
