VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Southeast Judicial District Judge Nick Thornton set bail at $30,000 cash or $50,000 cash surety bond for Garrett Kuntz during his initial court appearance in Barnes County on Thursday, March 12th.

The 22-year-old is accused of striking a pedestrian along Interstate 94 west of Valley City during the early morning hours of December 21st. A dead body was found in the interstate ditch by a motorist later that day.

Kuntz is charged with manslaughter and duty in accident involving death or personal injury. Both charges are Class B felonies. In North Dakota, the “duty” in an accident involving death refers to the legal obligations a driver must fulfill immediately following a collision that results in a fatality. Failure to comply with these duties is a criminal offense, categorized as a Class B felony if the failure is negligent. The maximum sentence is 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine or both.

The investigation, headed by the North Dakota Highway Patrol, identified Kuntz as the driver of a pickup that struck and killed 27-year-old Jerson Mejia of Honduras. An anonymous tip led to Kuntz as the driver. The patrol had earlier asked for the public’s help in finding a vehicle with damage to the front bumper and passenger-side front fender. The patrol also found a piece of damaged bug shield in the ditch near Mejia’s body.

A preliminary hearing or arraignment for Kuntz is set for Thursday, April 23rd at 1pm in the Barnes County Courthouse in Valley City

As of Thursday, Kuntz was in custody at the Barnes County Correctional Center in Valley City.