Trial date set in football player's hit-and-run trial

The trial of University of Richmond football player Jimmy Speros is set for 9:30 a.m. on June 11, following his preliminary hearing in the John Marshall Courts Building on Monday.

Speros arrived at the courthouse early Monday accompanied by his father, Jim. He was called to the bench at 9:45 a.m, along with complainant J. Perez and Speros' attorney, Michael Huyoung. The presiding judge, Birdie Hairston Jamison, set Speros' court date, at which time he will be on trial because of his arrest on felony hit-and-run charges.

When approached in the court lobby following the hearing, Speros declined to comment.

Speros, a junior offensive lineman, was arrested on Feb. 29 on felony charges of a hit-and-run causing personal injury. He was released the same day on a $3,500 unsecured bond, Dionne Waugh of the Public Affairs Unit of the Richmond Police Department said.

Speros had run a stop sign, causing his 2011 Dodge pickup truck to hit a 2003 Nissan SUV at the intersection of Patterson Avenue and Charles Street at 9:09 p.m. on Feb. 25, according to the Crime Incident Information Center of the Richmond Police Department. Speros' truck had halted after hitting a utility pole, Waugh said.

There were two passengers in Speros' vehicle -- junior Mark Speir and another unnamed person. One of the two men was taken to a local hospital by personal vehicle, Waugh said.

Passengers in the Nissan were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the car hit a brick wall, according to the incident report.

Waugh said police would not comment further about why it had taken four days to arrest Speros. The name of the third person in his car will not be released, Waugh said. Questions regarding ownership of the Dodge pickup truck, whether Speros' license has been suspended and whether the passengers released Speros' name at the scene of the accident would not be answered, as they are part of the on-going investigation, Waugh said.

Speros appeared at the Richmond Manchester General District Court at 9 a.m. March 1 for his arraignment. At that time, Speros said he had understood the charges that Judge D.E. Cheek had read to him, which included being the driver in an accident where someone had been injured and having failed to stop at or report the accident.

Last football season, Speros started six games, including the last five of the year. In total, he has appeared in nine games at tackle and center.

Speros is the son of Jim Speros, who was a former assistant coach for the Washington Redskins and the Buffalo Bills.

Contact reporter Laila Hart at laila.hart@richmond.edu