A January ninth preliminary hearing has been set for a 36-year-old Marysville man charged in connection with running a vehicle into two Manhattan businesses the end of last week. Jason Butler appeared in Pottawatomie County Court for the first time Tuesday afternoon. He faces eight charges including felony DUI, leaving the scene of an injury accident, abuse of toxic vapors, and driving while suspended. Butler reportedly had minor injuries as a result of the accident.
Butler was arrested last Friday after he was connected with driving into the building housing Short go and Staples just off Tuttle Creek Boulevard. The ’96 Buick Century he was driving was found a short time later that morning about a block from the damaged businesses.
During Tuesday’s court appearance, Butler was declared indigent and Rebecca Rookstool was appointed as his counsel. His bond was reduced from $10,000 to $5,000. Rookstool asked for an OR or own recognizance bond but Pottawatomie County Attorney Sherri Schuck mentioned his criminal history with substance issues and pointed to the incident at the Staples Building as evidence of Butler’s danger to the community.
Butler’s preliminary hearing is set for nine a.m. January ninth.
