Raleigh, N.C. — Prosecutors charged Rep. Larry Womble with one count of Death by Motor Vehicle, a misdemeanor, in connection with a December crash.

Womble, 70, was charged in Forsyth County Court today and released on a promise to appear on July 18, according to court records and a news release from the Winston-Salem Police Department. 

Womble, D-Forsyth, and David Allen Carmichael collided on Reynolds Park Road on Dec. 2. Carmichael, 54, of 2767 Reynolds Park Road, was killed in the wreck. Blood alcohol tests showed Carmichael was drunk at the time of the wreck.

The nine-term Democrat returned to the legislative building for the first time since the wreck this week to speak on behalf a bill to compensate victims of North Carolina's eugenics program. Womble has long been an advocate of the measure.

According to the {{a href="external_link"}}Winston-Salem Journal,{{/a}} Womble was accompanied to the courthouse today by friend and fellow lawmaker Earline Parmon.

"Mr. Womble presented himself with his attorney, Mr. David Freedman for warrant service at the Forsyth County Detention Center on 05-24-12 at 2:30 pm," said a news release from the Winston-Salem Police Department. "He was processed and released to appear in court on June 6th, 2012."

Charges in the case were brought by the N.C. Attorney General's special prosecution unit, and that unit will handle the case.