WEST LEYDEN — An Ava man wanted in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident Wednesday night is being held without bail on a felony charge.

State police early Sunday charged Royce E. Beck, 41, with felony leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, according to a release. He was arraigned in Lewis Town Court and committed to Lewis County jail, Lowville.

Mr. Beck was charged with driving off after hitting a pedestrian, Debra J. Royce, 54, Holland Patent, with his truck at 11:20 p.m. Wednesday at 4824 Osceola Road in the town of Lewis. Ms. Royce died of injuries sustained in the crash.

It is too early to tell what further charges, if any, will be lodged against Mr. Beck, said Lewis County District Attorney Leanne K. Moser. "It's still part of an ongoing investigation," she said, noting the case will eventually go before a grand jury.

Further comment from state police was unavailable Sunday, as the lead investigator in the case was on vacation.

Mr. Beck turned himself in to police Saturday night, capping off a nearly three-day search in southern Lewis and northern Oneida counties.

Mr. Beck and Ms. Royce had dated in the past, and the pair had been seen together Wednesday night, police told the Utica Observer-Dispatch.

The local judge could not set a bail amount on Mr. Beck because he has had more than one prior felony conviction, Ms. Moser said.

Mr. Beck from 1997 to 1999 served a two-year term at Gouverneur Correctional Facility on a charge of first-degree sexual abuse following a conviction in Oneida County Court, according to the state Department of Correctional Services Web site. He was also designated as a Level 2 sex offender .

Mr. Beck also served a four-year prison term, beginning in 1986, on a third-degree attempted robbery charge in Monroe County and a two-year term, starting in 1994, on a third-degree attempted burglary charge in Oneida County.