The son of a local doctor will stand trial Jan. 20 for a case in which he is accused of killing two people in a 2006 drunken driving crash.

Defense attorney Lee Davis had arrived in court this morning hoping he and the prosecution could work out a deal for 22-year-old Dennis Neal Bizzoco, who was himself severely injured in the crash.

Charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, Mr. Bizzoco faces 8 to 12 years in prison for each death, meaning he could possibly end up spending at least 20 years in prison if convicted.

Mr. Bizzoco is also charged with two counts of vehicular assault, two counts of reckless aggravated assault and two counts of driving under the influence, according to the indictment against him.

“We’d had candid and open discussions hoping it could be resolved,” Mr. Davis said after the court appearance today, declining to comment on any possible deal Mr. Bizzoco could have received from the state if a consensus had been reached.

According to past reports, court records show that Mr. Bizzoco was driving a 2000 Mitsubishi Montero south on Mountain Creek Road, lost control and struck a 2002 Lexus RX300 head-on, killing 67-year-old Jerry Martin. Authorities said a passenger in Mr. Bizzoco’s vehicle, Michael Bodiford, 19, also was killed, and two passengers were injured.

Mr. Bizzoco’s bond was increased in 2007 when he was found passed out inside a gymnastics training facility with several beer cans and a bottle of liquor.

See tomorrow’s Times Free Press for complete coverage.

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