Bond reduced for suspect in DUI manslaughter

PANAMA CITY — Chad Mattson kept his head buried in his arm and wept, at times uncontrollably, throughout his Friday morning bond hearing.

At one point, as the parents of Mattson’s alleged DUI manslaughter victim testified, a bailiff had to hand Mattson a tissue.

Mattson, 27, is accused of driving a 2007 Nissan Altima when he struck 15-year-old Taylor Smith and 15-year-old Mark J. Ecklund II on Sept. 28 as the teens were riding their bicycles on Thomas Drive. Taylor Smith suffered fatal injuries and died about five days after the wreck. Ecklund was injured but has recovered.

Mattson fled the scene and hid in the woods until he turned himself into Bay County Sheriff’s deputies a few hours after the wreck, investigators said.

Shawn Smith, Taylor’s father, said he knew in his heart that Taylor is now where he is supposed to be.

“I also know in my heart that Chad is where he is supposed to be for right now,” Shawn Smith said. “I have no doubt that there is a good person in there somewhere. I have no idea where that person was on Sept. 28.”

Laura Smith said she believed Mattson’s parents wanted him out of jail so they could spend time with him over the holidays.

“You know what I want? I want my son back,” Laura Smith said, adding that they’ll never have him back again. “The only thing we have left now are memories.”

Mattson will be forced to live with his parents in Pensacola, but he is still a flight risk, Laura Smith said.

“He hid in the woods while Taylor was fighting for his life,” she added. “To this day everything that he has done has only been about himself.”

Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet, who previously set Mattson’s combined bond at $400,000, said he had sworn an oath to follow the law.

“The defendant in this case is presumed innocent,” Overstreet said. “Not presumed not guilty. He is presumed innocent.”

Overstreet then changed the total bond from $400,000 to $125,000. If Mattson makes that bond, he essentially will be under house arrest in his parents’ home in Pensacola, Overstreet said. Mattson was still in the Bay County Jail late Friday afternoon. 

After the hearing, Larry Perry, one of the attorneys representing the Smiths in a civil case against Mattson, said they understand the judge is following the law.

“He (Mattson) will get his day in court, and they want to make sure that justice is served completely,” Perry said. “We know that he is beginning to feel some remorse. We know he is beginning to sense some of the pain that he has inflicted on these families, but for him it is just the beginning.”