7/26/2009

in

Daniel Bark recieves numerous charges, is currently unstable.

Lindsey Weedston

Ocean county police arrested 23-year-old Daniel Bark at 6 p.m. on Sunday as a suspect in the hit-and-run that killed two-time "American Idol" contestant Alexis Cohen.  
  
New York Daily News reports that Bark was originally charged with second-degree manslaughter due to reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident, which got him a $35,000 bail and, if found guilty, could nail him with 15 years in prison. He's currently being held in the Ocean County Jail in New Jersey.  
  
On Monday, the next day, Judge Wendel E. Daniels announced that Bark will now face additional charges. According to E! Online, these include aggravated manslaughter, death by vehicular homicide, and eluding a law enforcement officer. His bail has now increased to $150,000.  
  
Prosecutors are expected to argue that alcohol was involved in the incident.  
  
Bark's attorney said after the additional charges were made that the young man is "having an extremely difficult time mentally coming to terms with the fact that there's an allegation that he caused a death." Bark is so distraught that he is currently under suicide watch, writes Asbury Park Press. His family has offered their condolences to the family of Alexis Cohen.