Court date set in coach’s death
Court closure due to virus delays case procedures
Court closure due to COVID-19 is delaying procedures in the case against a Huntingdon Woods woman, facing several felonies in connection with a fatal crash that took the life of a local high school footbal l coach.
Wendy Bass, 54, is charged with second- degree murder and other crimes in connection with the Aug. 19 death of Ben Jones, 30, of Royal Oak. Jones was head football coach at Cranbrook Kingswood when he died.
At what was supposed to be a probable cause conference via Zoom on Tuesday, 45th District Judge Michelle Appel denied a request, for now, from defense attorneys Jerome Sabbota and John McManus seeking an in- person preliminary exam date.
Appel said all proceedings are currently being held remotely due to COVID-19 cases.
The court set another probable cause conference for Nov. 17 where a preliminary exam date might be set, depending on circumstances.
At a preliminary exam, the judge reviews evidence, which could include testimony, to determine whether or not the case advances to circuit court.
Appel also said she’s considering reversal of her earlier decision allowing Bass to undergo court- ordered drug testing through oral swab rather than urinalysis to accommodate a purported shy bladder.
Appel said so far she hasn’t received results detecting or ruling out Bass’s use of controlled substances and prescription drugs, though her attorneys maintain she’s tested five times since her Oct. 1 arraignment.
The lag time will be addressed with the Oakland County’s Community Corrections division, which provides test results as well as programming and other services for the criminal justice system.
Bass is on a tether to detect alcohol use.
Police said Jones was in a Jeep Cherokee, stopped at a traffic light at the I- 696 service drive near 10 Mile and Woodward, when Bass, driving a Mercedes SUV, slammed into him.
Jones was transported to Beaumont Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Bass had a blood alcohol content of .28 percent, according to police.
A pretrial services report states that Bass is supported by royalties from her former husband, Mark Bass, one of the Bass Brothers who won Grammy Awards for their producing work with rap star Eminem.
The second- degree murder charge against Bass is punishable by up to life in prison. She is also charged with first- time drunken driving causing a death and reckless driving.