By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
October 10, 2007

A Parkdale man has entered a not guilty plea to criminally negligent homicide involving the death of a friend.

Branden James Fletcher, 33, is accused of running over Gerald Phelps, 35, of Odell, with a pickup truck. The incident occurred on Nov. 9, 2006, while the two men were on a hunting trip along Forest Road 620, east of Highway 35.

District Attorney John Sewell charged Fletcher in late June of 2007 with causing the fatality. The defendant was also charged with DUII after allegedly registering a .20 on the intoxylizer almost three hours after Phelps died.

According to reports, Fletcher was unable to fully explain how Phelps sustained massive internal injuries. He allegedly told law enforcement officials that Phelps was hit by a tree after attempting to leave the moving vehicle.

The two men had been traveling alone and were less than one mile away from an encampment where they planned to meet up with friends.

Sewell said autopsy results indicate that Phelps received crushing injuries consistent with being run over. He declined to comment further on the case developed by Sheriff Detective Bob Davidson.

In June Sewell said the investigation into Phelps’ death was delayed for months by snowfall that hindered Davidson’s ability to examine the scene. He also said the crime lab analysis was “involved” and took some time to complete.

A trial date for Fletcher will be set later this month. He is being represented in court by Jack Morris, primary defense contractor for Hood River County.

Phelps, who was raised in Odell, graduated from Hood River Valley High School in 1989. For 15 years, he was employed at Diamond Fruit Company. He is survived by his wife, Jami Bellus, and three young children.