08-02-2025
Odessan's bond increased
Feb. 7—An Ector County District Court judge has dramatically increased the bond of an 18-year-old Odessa man awaiting trial in an intoxication manslaughter case because he was arrested last week in Midland on suspicion of reckless driving.
Judge Justin Low increased Jose Contreras' bond from $100,000 to $500,000 at the request of prosecutors Friday morning. He also said if Contreras is released, he'll have to be tracked by GPS and have an alcohol monitor.
According to Odessa Police Corporal Steve LeSueur, on Oct. 27 Contreras was driving a Dodge Challenger west on Everglade when he turned south onto Bellaire, left the roadway and hit Alex Bingham, 25, of Odessa.
Contreras left the scene without stopping to help Bingham and abandoned his vehicle, LeSueur said.
Bingham was taken to Medical Center Hospital and he later died.
Contreras was indicted Jan. 15 on a charge of collision involving death and on Jan. 28 on an intoxication manslaughter charge. Both are second-degree felonies.
