Musician facing new charges in cyclist's death

MIAMI (WSVN) -- An aspiring pop musician is facing a DUI manslaughter charge, among others, in the death of a bicyclist last month in Key Biscayne.

Twenty-eight-year Carlos Bertonatti is no longer in the comfort of his own home but rather in Miami-Dade County Jail Monday, where he will remain until his trial begins.

He was originally charged with DUI manslaughter in the hit and run death of a bicyclist last month. Prosecutors added charges of leaving the scene of the crime, resisting arrest, fleeing and alluding police and driving without a valid license on top of the original DUI manslaughter citation.

Due to the additional accusations, a judge revoked his original bail, which had been set at $100,000. Having racked up an extensive driving record, Bartanati was on house arrest with an ankle monitor. However the judge deemed that restriction too lax. Bertonatti's passport has also been confiscated.

On Jan. 17, 44-year-old Christopher LeCanne was on his bicycle in the Rickenbacker Causeway's dedicated bike lane when, authorities said, he was struck from behind. The crash sparked public outcry because many questioned the response time by medical officials, who allegedly took between 15 to 20 minutes to arrive at the scene, causing the man to meet a premature death. Officials have countered that theory by saying that the victim's injuries were simply too severe, and there was no chance for him to survive.

Bertonatti, who hails from Venezuela, does not have U.S. citizenship. However he is U.S. resident.

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