Chad Stuart, of the 1960s British pop-rock duo Chad & Jeremy, was arraigned in Blaine County 5th District Court Monday on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an injury accident.
Stuart is accused of ignoring a construction zone stop sign north of Ketchum, hitting a woman holding a flag, and leaving the scene of the accident. A felony charge of aggravated battery was earlier filed against him but later dismissed.
Stuart, 65, lives in Hailey. He pleaded not guilty to the charge before Judge Robert Elgee in a brief court appearance Monday. He requested a jury trial that was scheduled for Aug. 16.
Hailey attorney Douglas Nelson, who is representing Stuart, said Tuesday that he expects his client to be cleared of the charge.
Stuart achieved fame in the 1960s along with Jeremy Clyde as part of Chad & Jeremy. Hailing from England, the duo produced nearly a dozen record albums in the mid- to late '60s.
Some of their better known hit singles are "A Summer Song," which peaked the rock charts at No. 7, "Yesterday's Gone," No. 23, and "Distant Shores," No. 30. Chad & Jeremy have in recent times teamed up to perform benefit concerts.
Stuart's legal difficulties started Nov. 28, 2005, five miles north of Ketchum on state Highway 75 near the Lake Creek Trailhead. KD Excavation was performing road maintenance work along the highway. Certified flagger Barbara Chandler was stopping southbound traffic as a dump truck was being loaded in the roadway.
According to a court affidavit filed by Blaine County Sheriff's Deputy Dale Stocking, Stuart, driving a 1995 Pontiac Bonneville, "deliberately disregarded the stop sign," pulled into the northbound lane, struck Chandler with the front end of the car and left the scene of the accident.
Chandler testified at Stuart's preliminary hearing in March that she was knocked unconscious, suffered injuries to her shoulder, elbow and knee and has been unable to work since. She also testified that Stuart argued with her prior to the incident, and was verbally abusive.
Following testimony, Blaine County Magistrate Judge Mark Ingram dismissed the aggravated battery charge, stating that "intent" had not been proven. But he ruled that Stuart should stand trial on the charge of leaving the scene of an injury accident, an offense in Idaho that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $50,000.
Stuart is presently free on $2,500 bail.
CHAD STUART
