Dakota Brent Hughes

The Chicora magistrate’s office was crowded with friends and family during the preliminary hearing for Dakota B. Hughes, 22, of Eau Claire, who was charged in the death of his mother’s boyfriend, Seth Gooden Smith, 27, of Polk, Venango County, on March 2.

Tuesday morning, charges of felony criminal homicide and aggravated assault against Hughes moved forward to common pleas court.

Following testimony, Al Lindsay, defense attorney, asked District Judge Lewis Stoughton that Hughes be placed under bail given the situation.

“I understand this is a homicide case and the knee jerk reaction is for no bond or high bond, but this is a very unusual case,” he said. “The alleged victim of this case had committed domestic violence against the defendant’s mother...This kid has never been in trouble, he worked hard in a family business...look in the court room as to how many people support him.”

Stoughton said the request for bail would need to be taken up with a judge in the Court of Common Pleas.

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