Friends gather at the crash site where Dakota Demott was killed.

Two men charged with murder in the death of a Canyon Country man are due back in court next month, officials said Tuesday.

Colt Doherty and Thomas Vensko, who are both facing murder charges in the death of Dakota Demott, will be back in court on Feb. 21 for another preliminary hearing date.

Doherty, 20, who was driving the car in which Demott was a passenger, and Vensko, 20, are being charged with contributing to the cause of the crash, a second degree murder charge. They pleaded not guilty in December.

Vensko made bail Doherty is still being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

On the night of Jan. 10, Demott and Doherty were traveling in a Ford Mustang at a high rate of speed on Sand Canyon Road.

Dakota Demott

When Doherty entered a curve, he lost control of the car and collided with a large oak tree, the impact of which ejected Demott from the vehicle and threw him into a fence. Demott was declared dead at the scene.

Witnesses had told deputies that there were other vehicles involved in the crash. According to traffic investigator Deputy Mike Shapiro, Vensko was arrested because he was racing Doherty before the crash occurred.

“Even though he didn’t cause the death directly, because he was street racing, he faces the same penalty as the driver,” Shapiro said.

Vensko had two passengers in the car with him, but they are not being charged.