Man accused of killing motorcyclist denied lower bond amount

The man accused of fatally killing a motorcyclist on Highway 95 last year was not able to get out of custody today.

Fifty-four-year-old Jeff Warner Cloud also appeared in reference to a settlement conference which was rescheduled for February 6th.

As for new conditions, Cloud’s attorney requested his bond be lowered to $75,000 instead of a previously set $250,000 cash-only bond.

His attorney also argued that Cloud has been having trouble getting lab work and diagnosis for his health condition.

Because of this, his attorney asked that Cloud would be allowed to travel to San Diego to receive medical treatment.

Following the requests from Cloud’s attorney, victims were able to make statements.

The victim’s son and daughter stepped forward.

“I implore you not to release this man back to the public, he sidestepped the law and took the life of my father,” McClure’s son said.

His daughter then stepped forward, unable to read her typed statement, which she then gave to the victim representative.

The letter described McClure’s daughter explaining the incident to her daughter.

The representative read, “some people are selfish and careless, they make choices where no good comes to them, Jeff had a choice, a choice to stay home, his reckless behavior stripped the world of my papa.”

The representative for McClure’s widow then stepped forward to make his statement.

“He’s (Cloud) getting medical attention in the jail, my client is dead,” he said.

Judge Haws said his decision would revolve around whether he would appear in court and whether he is a danger to the community.

Because Haws believes that Cloud would, in fact, be a danger to the community, he ruled to leave the bond amount set.

In addition, if Cloud were able to post bond, he would not be able to drive or consume alcohol among other contingencies.

Cloud will be back in court on February 6.

ORIGINAL STORY: Man arrested in fatal crash on highway 95

A San Diego man has been arrested on a charge of second-degree murder after a man died in a crash that happened on Highway 95 near Fortuna Road on Monday.

Jeff Warner Cloud, 54, will return to court Thursday at 1 p.m. and has been held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.

According to the Department of Public Safety, a traffic collision between a motorcycle and a Ford pickup truck occurred at 5:46 p.m. on State Route 95 near milepost 34.

Cloud was driving a Ford pickup southbound on Highway 95 when officers said he missed a curve in the road and drifted into the oncoming lane of traffic. As a result, the pickup struck a motorcyclist head-on, being driven northbound by Byron D. McClure, who died at the scene from his injuries.

Cloud was taken into custody and booked into the Yuma County Jail, then charged with second-degree murder

DPS troopers informed Cloud that the county attorney’s office has two days to review the case and decide whether to file a criminal complaint, charging him with any offenses. If no criminal complaint is filed against him he will be released.