A man accused of driving drunk in a crash that left his passenger dead is saying ‘no’ to a plea deal.

36 year old Jemark Ballenger will have a trial date set for charges of felony vehicular manslaughter, manslaughter and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and driving without a license.

Troy McIver died in the crash in the Town of Binghamton August 27, 2015.

It took authorities two years to find Ballenger in South Carolina after he fled.

Ballenger is being held on $50,000 bail but the public defender representing him is arguing that amount should be reduced.

If convicted, Ballenger could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.  Had he accepted a plea deal for felony criminally negligent homicide and misdemeanor driving while ability impaired, he would be looking at up to four years in prison.

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