Below you will find the injustice happening...Please, keep this case in your Prayers...We never want to push for anything that might hurt someone, but I think this boy not being able to drive anymore, would be a good and safe thing for everyone. Come on Judge I know people who get there license taken for having a decorative blue light in their car or for not covering themselves with insurance. Here we have the deaths of a family. I don't think just a $154.00 fine and $5000 bond is equal to what this family has lost. Our continued thought's, letters and Prayers go out to all those involved. 


COVINGTON — A 20-year-old Independence man accused of killing a couple after running a red light will be allowed to keep driving.

Richard Michael Beers was arraigned on two counts of reckless homicide Monday in Kenton Circuit Court. He is out of jail on $5,000 bond.

Despite requests from prosecutors, Judge Martin Sheehan declined to change the condition of Beers’ bond to prevent him from getting behind the wheel.

Beers is charged in the deaths of Brian Hehman, 29, and Melissa Hehman, 27, who died Aug. 5, 2011 after police say Beers ran a red light at the intersection of Ky. 17 and Ky. 3035.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Leanne Beck said the light had been red for “several seconds” when Beers went through it striking three vehicles. The Hehmans were the second car that was hit, a Ford Probe. Their basset hound Jojo also died in the accident.

In court Monday, Beers attorney Mary Rafizadeh told the judge that Beers needed to be able to drive to get to work and church.

When Sheehan questioned Beers’ driving record, Rafizadeh said that he has had three or four speeding tickets and a reckless driving charge. Prosecutors did not have a copy of Beers driving record in court.

Since he got his learner’s permit in 2007, Beers has been cited for speeding three times, according to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet records. In those four years, Beers has been pulled over 13 times.

In addition to speeding, his infractions included not wearing a seat belt, not having his insurance card, not having his license with him, running a stop sign, improper passing, careless driving and reckless driving.

Two weeks before the fatal accident, Beers was charged with running a stop sign at Maher and Graven roads in Kenton County. He received the ticket at 1:23 p.m. and less than an hour later he paid the $154 fine at Kenton District Court in Covington.

Beers’ driving record shows that he was not cited for the Aug. 5 accident and he has received no citations since the accident.

If convicted on both counts of reckless homicide, Beers could face 10 years in prison.

He is scheduled to appear again in court April 20.