There will be no drunk talk in the case against “Bachelor” alum Chris Soules. At least if he has his way.
Soules, who was arrested and charged with leaving the scene where a death occurred in Iowa earlier this year, has filed a motion asking to suppress any alcohol-related evidence in the case against him.
The motion reasons that the evidence should be suppressed because Soules tested negative for drugs or alcohol.
“Any evidence, testimony, reference, or argument that, on the night in question, Mr. Soules: 1) purchased alcohol, 2) consumed alcohol, 2) drove while impaired, or 3) had beer cans in or around his vehicle” are inadmissible, the motion contends. “According to a report issued by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Criminalistics Laboratory, Mr. Soules’ specimens were negative for drugs and alcohol. The DCI conducted thorough toxicology testing on two separate samples – his urine and blood – and conclusively determined no detectable amounts of alcohol or drugs were in either specimen.”
Soules was arrested at his home near Arlington, Iowa, following a fatal crash that left 66-year-old Kenneth Eugene Mosher dead. The former reality TV star was taken into custody after the pickup truck he was driving rear-ended a John Deere tractor, according to the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office.
In a May filing, Buchanan County, Iowa, attorney Shawn M. Harden said that Soules bought alcohol at a convenience store prior to the crash, ABC News reports.
Harden also alleged that the reality TV veteran had “empty and partially consumed open” alcoholic beverages “located in and around his vehicle.”
Friday’s motion also asked that Mosher not be identified as a “victim” in the case.
“The State has not charged Mr. Soules with any crime asserting he is criminally responsible for the death of the decedent. Thus, it is wholly improper for the State or any witness to refer to the decedent as a ‘victim’ since such a reference inaccurately characterizes the events relevant to the instant charge and would not have any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of this action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence and is more prejudicial than probative, will cause confusion of the issues and will mislead the jury as finders of fact,” the motion reads.
Previously, Soules filed a motion to dismiss, contending that he satisfied the Iowa code governing conduct in such instances.
According to court papers filed by the former reality TV star in Iowa district court, Soules — who gained notoriety as “Prince Farming” on the reality series — “unhesitatingly identified himself and his role in the accident” in a 911 call and “tried his utmost to resuscitate” Mosher.
“Mr. Soules described the location of the accident and communicated with dispatch for approximately 5 minutes and 45 seconds while help was en route,” the court papers read. “The evidence will further show that emergency responders arrived on the scene shortly after Mr. Soules concluded his 911 call. Mr. Soules remained on the scene with those emergency responders for several more minutes before returning to his home.”
Soules has pleaded not guilty.