Man charged in trooper’s death rejects plea deal, heads to second trial

A man charged in a trooper’s death rejected a plea deal on Thursday.

Serghei Comerzan is charged with murder and resisting arrest stemming from the death of Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper James Bava.

Bava died when he lost control of his patrol cruiser trying to pull over Comerzan for speeding on Highway FF in Audrain County in 2015. Comerzan was going 100 to 105 miles an hour on the stretch of road when he passed Bava, according to the defendant and the victim’s estimations.

Comerzan was in court on Thursday for his pre-trial hearing when he rejected the plea deal.

ABC 17 crews were inside of the court room when the plea deal was offered and then denied. Crews said the deal was discussed privately in the Judge’s chambers so the details of the deal are unknown.

Comerzan is scheduled to head to his second trial after the first ended with a hung jury. His attorneys previously argued that he did not know Bava was in pursuit of him.

Comerzan faces 30 years in prison if convicted.

For more on the previous trial, click here.

Defense attorney John James reiterated on Thursday that Comerzan is only guilty of speeding or careless and imprudent driving. James said he and the family were hopeful a jury would acquit Comerzan this time.

Annette Jansen, head of the Missouri chapter of the law enforcement advocacy group Concerns of Police Survivors, has worked closely with the Bava family since their son’s death. Jansen told ABC 17 News that she sat with them during the first trial and tried to comfort them during the tough moments of the trial.

“Some people may have just said, ‘We’re done,'” Jansen said of the mistrial. “And they want to see this through to the end.”

Judge Ted House said he plans to call 100 people in St. Charles for the jury pool. Jury selection is expected to start on Feb. 23.