A Waterloo man who authorities say was behind the wheel when his wife was killed in a traffic accident was arraigned Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Donald L. Lewis, 37, of 1850 County Road 48, entered a plea of not guilty before Judge Charles Cooper, who set bond at $100,000 and ordered Lewis to return next week for a pretrial conference.

“Obviously, this is a very serious charge against Mr. Lewis,” Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr., said. “An individual died as a result of Mr. Lewis driving while he was intoxicated. And this is not the first time. He has multiple prior convictions for DUI. He tested over .30. He has no regard for the authority of the law.”

But Lewis’ attorney, Mike Gleichauf, argued that while the charge was serious, a high bond was not necessary.

“Bond should be used as a tool to insure his appearance at future hearings,” Gleichauf said. “He did turn himself in when he learned of the charges against him.”

The accident that killed Elizabeth Lewis happened May 19. Authorities said the vehicle they were traveling in was southbound on State Route 93 when it left the roadway. Elizabeth Lewis was ejected from the vehicle.

Also Wednesday, a Chesapeake woman who pleaded guilty last month to perjury was sentenced to three years in prison. Ashley Dickson, 22, of 162 Township Road 1043, may be eligible for judicial release after six months with good behavior.

Dickson admitted she gave two conflicting statements to authorities investigating a domestic violence complaint she had filed.

The statement she gave during a session of the Lawrence County grand jury was significantly different from the one she had given earlier, according to the prosecutor’s office.