The man accused of selling a dose of heroin that killed a Gates woman refused to leave his cell Thursday afternoon for his scheduled arraignment, and was forcibly escorted to Gates Court by Monroe County Deputies.
The judge issued a so-called “body order” against Dominic Hobbs of Rochester at the request of the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. It’s a rarely-used order that requires jail deputies to physically remove a suspect from his cell and deliver him to the courtroom. Hobbs had no comment on being brought to court. Papers filed by the DA’s office say he has five previous felony convictions, so no bail was set. The case will go to a grand jury.
Hobbs was charged earlier this week with criminally negligent homicide for selling heroin to Tara Miles of Gates. She died of an overdose at her home. Police are hoping to use the negligent homicide law as a new tool against the surge in heroin and opioid drug deaths.