Caleb Pruitt, the man charged with manslaughter for his involvement in the fatal collision that took the life of Angela Burke as she attempted to cross SW Barbur Blvd on December 15th, has posted bail and is currently on house arrest at his family home in Hood River.
Pruitt was initially charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Criminally Negligent Homicide, but after Portland Police investigators and the Multnomah County DA’s office learned more about what happened that night, they upped the charges to include Manslaughter — a crime with a minimum prison sentence of 75 months.
The significant upgrade in charges came with an increased bail amount and new conditions on Pruitt’s release. Pruitt had posted 10 percent of $50,000 bail for the initial charges, but the new charges came with a bail amount of $250,000. Unable to pay, Pruitt was booked back into jail last week and on Wednesday he was in court for a release hearing.
According to Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Chuck Sparks, at that hearing Pruitt’s bail was reduced to $200,000 and he has since paid the 10 percent and has been released under strict conditions.
Sparks says while he’s under house arrest, Pruitt is wearing an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet. He is only permitted to travel to work and to legal appointments. Pruitt is not allowed to operate a motor vehicle and he’s required to begin a drug and alcohol treatment program.
The case is pending trial.