Teen Waives Hearing in Fatal Limerick Crash

A preliminary hearing was scheduled to be held Monday morning for 18-year-old Pottstown resident Justin Jackson, who has been charged with vehicular homicide in the March 4 death of Merinda Thompson. 

Patch has learned that Jackson has opted to waive the preliminary hearing, which means that Jackson will automatically be bound over for trial in the Court of Common Pleas.

The waiver of a preliminary hearing prevents the defense from challenging the sufficiency of the prosecution's case. Essentially, the defense admits that there is enough evidence to go to trial, according to an article on lawyers.com.

According to The Criminal Law Handbook by Paul Bergman (as quoted on the legal information site Nolo.com), there are several reasons that a preliminary hearing might be waived, including the possibility of a plea bargain where the defendant may plead guilty in exchange for a lesser sentence. 

Defense lawyer Francis Genovese was not immediately available for comment Friday. Additionally, the Montgomery County District Attorney's office was already closed for the day late Friday afternoon. 

Patch will continue following this developing story.