Public Defender Ordered To Represent Man Charged In Fatal DWI Crash

A public defender was ordered to represent a Steelville man who is charged in a fatal DWI crash.

Cody A. Carey, 30, remains in custody at the Crawford County Jail.

Carey was allegedly intoxicated June 7 when he crashed head-on into another vehicle on Highway 8, killing the driver, Joshua Morgan.

According to online court records, Carey filed for a public defender, which was denied. It was then appealed and an indigency hearing was held. 

Carey was found indigent, allowing the court to order a public defender to represent him.

The case has been continued to July 25 at 9 a.m. for a counsel status.

According to the probable cause statement, Carey crossed the center of the roadway while making a turn onto Highway 8.

Carey allegedly told a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper that he drank two beers and a shot of Fireball whiskey around 5:10 p.m.

The crash occurred around 6:10 p.m

A preliminary breath test returned with a reading of .099 percent blood alcohol concentration.

Joshua Morgan was pronounced dead at 7:14 p.m.

His wife, Leah, suffered sacral, sternal, spinal and rib fractures.

She was transported via helicopter to St. Louis for treatment.

Carey has previous felony convictions for driving while intoxicated, which was in March 2016. He served 10 days in jail.

In 2014, Carey pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary and theft/stealing a firearm, for which he served 120-day shock and probation.