MT. VERNON – A 30-year-old Mt. Vernon man finally appeared in Jefferson County Court Wednesday to be advised of the charges against him stemming from the late Sunday night crash that took the life of 18-year-old pedestrian Courtney Estes.

Mitchell Sharp had refused to leave his jail cell Tuesday when he was scheduled to be advised of the Class 1 felony failure to report a crash involving a death, Class 2 felony aggravated DUI resulting in death, Class 3 felony reckless homicide, Class 4 felony aggravated reckless driving, and failure to report a crash involving a death charges against him, as well as a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended license.

Despite Sharp’s refusal to leave his jail cell, Judge Jerry Crisel set bond in the case at $200,000.

However, an Aug. 24 preliminary hearing wasn’t set in the case until Wednesday after Judge Crisel advised the defendant of the charges against him and the possible penalties if convicted.

Sharp was reportedly driving west on Main Street Sunday night when he ran off the road, struck Estes who was a pedestrian on the sidewalk, and then crashed into a home in the 600 block of Main Street.

Estes, a 2023 graduate of Mt. Vernon Township High School, was pronounced dead at the scene by Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Allison Harris.

Visitation will be held for Courtney from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon.

A funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. with Reverend Jason Webb officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Mount Vernon. Memorials may be made in Courtney’s honor to the Jefferson County Animal Shelter.