Accused drunken driver avoids court date again

Alexander Peder, the 50-year-old man accused of driving drunk and killing two Decatur High School seniors just days before their graduation, has avoided a court date once again.

Peder was scheduled to appear in court this week for a bail hearing, but his defense requested the hearing be canceled. He is currently in jail on $1 million bail and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide. Peder was also supposed to receive a trial date at the hearing, which didn’t happen.

Peder’s other court case, a revocation hearing for violating his parole for past drunk driving charges, was moved to Sept. 2 after his lawyers asked for more time.

Peder has twice been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

In 1998, the charge was amended to negligent driving and his sentence was deferred after Peder showed proof of completing a DUI victims panel and getting an alcohol evaluation.

In 2008, he was arrested for a DUI; this time the charge was amended to reckless endangerment and Peder was given a two-year suspended sentence. He is still on suspension for the last DUI offense.

Prosecutors are now planning on asking the court to revoke his suspension and impose the full sentence of one year in jail, which would be served in addition to any time he receives for the two counts of vehicular homicide. Peder faces five to seven years for those counts.