George Spratley, 24, is walked out of City Court by Lt. John Janotta, middle, and Sgt. Virgil Woodall Monday evening.(The Vicksburg Post/PAT Shannahan)

[02/13/01] The man accused of being behind the wheel in a fatal hit-and-run Saturday made no statement at his initial court appearance Monday, and no charges were added.

George Spratley, 24, 3785 Flowers Hill Road, was ordered held without bond in the Warren County Jail by Municipal Judge Pro Tem Lewis Burke.

Authorities were trying to determine whether to charge him with causing the fire that destroyed part of the Scottish Inn motel the same night.

Spratley was formally charged with vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident.

He faces up to 20 years on the charge of vehicular manslaughter and up to a $5,000 fine and one year in jail on the charge of leaving the scene of an accident.

Vicksburg Fire Chief Kevin Westbrook said investigators are still trying to piece together the cause of the blaze that destroyed the motel on East Clay Street where Spratley was arrested around 8 a.m., six hours after Kelvin Watson, 28, 151 Pittman Road, died on North Washington Street.

Initially, the investigation focused the fire-damaged 1992 Pontiac that Spratley had been driving on the possibility it was set on fire to destroy evidence of the hit and run. The new focus is the motel room registered to Spratley, Westbrook said.

“We’re positive that the fire started in that vicinity,” Westbrook said.

He said investigators should have some more information about the cause of the blaze in a couple of days.

Watson was crossing the street near Joanna’s Restaurant and Lounge on North Washington around 2 a.m. when he was struck and killed by the car investigators say Spratley was driving. Blood samples were taken from Spratley and have been sent to the state crime lab in Jackson, Sgt. Beverly Prentiss said.

Spratley, an employee of the City of Vicksburg Maintenance Department, is being represented by Vicksburg attorney Clyde Ellis.

The case goes to Warren County Circuit Court. District Attorney Gil Martin said the case would probably be presented to the May grand jury.