A Greer man charged with plying a 19-year-old woman with alcohol moments before she was killed in a Cherokee National Highway car crash was released from jail March 11 after his bond was lowered by a Circuit Court judge.

Walter Acosta, 43, had been jailed since Jan. 21. His bond was initially set at $65,000 on charges of involuntary manslaughter and four separate counts of giving alcohol to a minor.

During a lengthy Feb. 26 hearing in Cherokee County General Sessions Court, Acosta petitioned for a reduction of bond. Circuit Court Judge Derham Cole subsequently handed down an order lowering the bond to $30,000.

The judge attached several conditions for Acosta’s release, however. Acosta is not allowed to change his address without court approval, possess any firearms, or have any contact with the victims in the case.

In addition, Judge Cole ruled that Acosta could not possess, consume or distribute any alcoholic beverages while on bond and that he would be subject to home detention with electronic monitoring.

Acosta will have to pay for the electronic monitoring as well.

The charges against Acosta stemmed from a SLED investigation into an Aug. 9, 2009, accident on Cherokee National Highway that claimed the life of 19-year-old Erica Sellars.

Investigators allege Acosta hosted a party at the Minnow Creek Restaurant that night and served alcohol to four underage girls. Sellars died in a wreck after leaving the restaurant.

Attorney Gene Adams of Spartanburg, who represents the Sellars family, vigorously opposed Acosta’s request for a reduction of bond, saying the family wished the bond had been set higher than the original $65,000 amount.

During the hearing on Acosta’s request, Adams relayed how Sellars — a college student who was a part-time employee at the Minnow Creek Restaurant — thought Acosta was throwing a “going away party” for the staff on Aug. 9, 2009.

But Adams alleged Sellars soon learned not all of the staff were invited. He claimed the only people present were Acosta, a male friend of Acosta who appeared of similar age to Acosta, four teenage employees including Sellars, and a 32-year-old waitress.

“It was a party set up by Walter Acosta for these four minors,” Adams claimed in court.

He further claimed Acosta served up fruitflavored drinks in shot glasses that left the teens intoxicated in just a few minutes.

Acosta’s lawyer, Holman Gossett, could not be reached for immediate comment after the bond reduction was approved by the court.

Gossett had argued that Acosta, who is a native of Argentina, has close family ties in the area and was not a flight risk. He further said Acosta had no active passport.