LAS VEGAS " The top prosecutor of a rural Nevada county has pleaded not guilty to drunken driving in the second of two vehicle crashes during a six-hour span on the same California highway on Father's Day.
Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett entered his plea Tuesday in San Bernardino County Superior Court in Barstow, Calif. A judge set a pretrial hearing Oct. 3.
Beckett previously issued a public statement taking "full responsibility" for the two rollover crashes last June 15 on California Route 127.
The first crash, near Shoshone, Calif., destroyed Beckett's county-issued sport utility vehicle.
The second wreck, in Beckett's personal van, drew a drunken driving charge from the California Highway Patrol.
Beckett is in his fourth term as district attorney. He finished third out of three candidates in an Aug. 12 primary election for Nye County District Court judge.