Big Sandy man to face grand jury in October

By: Pamela Mirabella

During a preliminary hearing for James Greer, Judge John Whitworth ruled the state presented sufficient evidence to bind the case over to a grand jury in October. Greer, 52, is charged with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and causing a crash that resulted in the death of his 4-year-old son on April 27.

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Leading the prosecution is Rebecca Griffey. In court on Friday, Griffey presented the state’s evidence that included testimony from three investigators from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Griffey also disclosed that this was Greer’s eleventh D.U.I charge.

The troopers testified that after a night at the drive-in movies, Greer, along with the child’s mother, Leslie Hooper, 42, were traveling in a black Ford Explorer when it barreled through the intersection of Shiloh Church Rd. and State Hwy. 191, hitting a green Toyota van. The child was killed when he reportedly was ejected from the vehicle resulting in major head trauma.

Four people were injured in the accident, including a 10-year-old boy, a 5-year-old boy, 87-year-old driver of the van, Robert Green and Greer.

Greer was taken to jail after being treated at Camden General Hospital. Benton Co. He has remained behind bars since April.

A passenger in Green’s van, Betty Green, 85, was not injured.

According to testimony, none of the children in the SUV were wearing child restraints and the back seat was laid down. One trooper said the head rests from the back seats were embedded into the back of the front seats.

The exact date for the grand jury trial is not available.

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