Biker indicted in passenger’s death

Thursday, May 1, 2003 | 8:36 a.m.

An Arizona motorcyclist was indicted Wednesday on felony DUI charges after he allegedly drove drunk and caused the single-vehicle collision that killed his passenger.

The indictment, unsealed before District Judge Gene Porter, charges Jeffrey Allyn Cheek, 50, with one count of DUI causing death and one count of reckless driving in the Oct. 20, 2002, accident that killed his girlfriend, Freda Brown, 49.

Porter issued a warrant for Cheek's arrest. Once in custody, his bail will be set at $250,000.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Bruce Nelson said Cheek lost control of the 1995 Boss Hog motorcycle he was driving when he struck a median at the intersection of Blue Diamond and Industrial roads.

Authorities estimate Cheek's blood alcohol level was about 0.12 at the time of the collision, Nelson said. He has no prior record.

The couple had just attended a Harley Davidson convention in Las Vegas. Brown's sister and her passengers were following the couple in their car, Nelson said.

"Mr. Cheek told police he was looking back to see if their friends were behind him when he hit the median," he said. Brown was ejected from the bike and died from her injuries two weeks later, Nelson said. Cheek and Brown were both wearing helmets.

"Had (Brown) not been wearing a helmet she would have died instantly," Nelson said.