Trial set for man accused of providing alcohol before fatal teen wreck

Future court dates, including a jury trial, have been set for the man accused of providing alcohol to minors at a party before an accident that killed a South Walton High School student.

Jeffery Wood, 37, has pleaded not guilty to charges of hosting an open house party, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and giving false information to a law enforcement officer - all misdemeanors, according to the Walton County Clerk of Courts' Web site.

Wood's new attorney, Lori Bytell, had not returned a phone call about the case by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

According to information from the Clerk of Courts office, Wood is scheduled for a bond modification hearing April 27, a motion hearing June 15, a docket call June 19 and a jury trial on June 22.

He is accused of being present at a party his teenage son was hosting that included alcohol the night of Jan.3.

Three teenagers, driver Elyse (Bushee) Tirico, Brytney Olsen and Megan Burkhart-Smith, were involved in an accident early Jan. 4. after leaving the party.

A Florida Highway Patrol report said Tirico ran a stop sign at State Road 20 and County Road 83A, crossed SR 20 and slammed her Land Rover into an oak tree while the vehicle was traveling about 23 mph.

Burkhart-Smith was killed. Tirico and Olsen suffered minor injuries.

Trico has been charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI with injury, possession of alcohol by a minor and failing to stop at a stop sign.

In an interview with investigators, Olsen said Wood "was at the party and that he knew that everyone at the party was drinking alcohol." She said Wood also was "drinking alcohol and playing the drinking games with everyone at the party."

The girls left the house party about 11:45 p.m. Olsen told investigators Tirico almost ran into a mailbox and was driving "all over the road." When Burkhart-Smith asked Tirico if she wanted her to drive, Tirico said "she was OK."

FHP findings said Tirico had a blood-alcohol level of 0.102.