Articles Posted in DUI Manslaughter

Last weekend, Ronald Simon of Yucca Valley was driving in Morongo Valley and witnesses claim he was drifting in and out of lanes. Simon lost control of the car and veered into oncoming traffic, crashing into a car driven by Cameron Hendricks. Hendricks and his 5-year-old daughter were seriously injured and were rushed to the hospital, where the 5-year-old was pronounced dead. Hendricks’ wife and other child were not injured. Simon was arrested on the scene of the crime for being under the influence of intoxicants.

It is very unfortunate that a 5-year-old girl was killed as a result of this driver’s irresponsibility. These accidents happen everyday though, because people continue to drive while intoxicated. If you are not sure if you are intoxicated, be on the safe side and don’t drive. Because of Simon’s decision to drive, he will have to get his license revoked, pay court fines and fees and likely spend time in prison. Whether you live in Laguna Beach, Brea or Westminster, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, call an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you.

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This weekend, Richard Ernest Caselli was driving 100 m.p.h. on the 73 toll road in Laguna Canyon. As he was speeding, he struck the back of a car driven by Brook Boynton, causing that car to spin out of control and flip over. Boynton was ejected from the car and killed. When officers arrived, they administered field sobriety tests on Caselli and determined that he was intoxicated at the time of the accident. He was arrested and booked into jail. He is facing the charge of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. If he is convicted of this charge, he could face up to 10 years in prison.

Often, intoxicated people have the urge to drive fast so they can get to their destination quicker to avoid because caught by police. This always leads to accidents or more attention from officers. If you are drunk, have a designated driver or a taxi cab pick you up. Anytime a person drives while intoxicated, they risk the chance of hurting or killing themselves or others. Whether you live in Newport Beach, Yorba Linda or Laguna Woods, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, call an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you.

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Jeffrey Woods is currently on trial for killing a 14-year-old bicyclist in 2007. Allegedly, Woods had been texting while driving and was also under the influence of Xanax and Vicodin on the day of the crash. Danny Oates was riding his bike to school to pick up his schedule when Woods drove right into him, killing him.

This week, an expert witness testified that being under the influence of those drugs while driving, could triple the chance of a driver being involved in a crash and could have a strong “empowering” effect on a person. Prosecutors claim that text messaging and being under the influence of 2 prescription drugs made it nearly impossible for Woods to stay on the road, thereby causing the crash. Defense attorneys claim that Woods had a seizure while driving and that was the cause of the accident.

Woods has pled not guilty to vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and driving under the influence and causing bodily harm. If he is convicted, he faces around 10 years in prison. Whether you live in Westminster, Lake Forest or Villa Park, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, call an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you.

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In February of this year, Alan Lester Mabrey had consumed about 11 beers before getting into his car to drive home. Pedestrian Emily Cathleen Dowdy was walking across Mission Boulevard in San Diego when she was struck. Mabrey kept on driving, went to Burger King to eat and then drove back to the accident scene. He was arrested and his blood alcohol level was at a .22% (almost three times the legal limit). He faces charges of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit-and-run, and driving under the influence.

This was not the first time Mabrey was charged with a DUI. He has several DUI convictions from Colorado and Texas and has already been to rehab and detox centers. Clearly, Mabrey has an alcohol problem and will likely be sentenced to prison time and alcohol education classes as his punishment. If you are charged with DUI manslaughter in Orange County, call an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you.

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Last weekend, Michael Neal was speeding on the I-80 highway in Citrus Heights. Neal lost control of the car and it clipped another car before skidding off the road and slamming into a tree. Two passengers in the car were killed instantly. A third passenger was taken to the hospital but died from her injuries. Neal was also taken to the hospital for his broken ribs and pelvic injuries. Police think he may have been intoxicated while driving so upon release from the hospital, he is expected to be arrested and taken to jail.

Neal has two past DUI incidents on his record. Both of the charges were never prosecuted though, because he failed to show up in court. Instead, his license was suspended. If he is convicted of three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol, Neal is looking to face life in prison. Whether you live in Los Angeles County, Riverside County or Orange County, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, call an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you.

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Joel Torrejon Miranda, a suspected drunk driver with three prior convictions was indicted on gross vehicular manslaughter charges this week. Allegedly, in February, Miranda was driving his Chevrolet pickup truck with a blood alcohol level of .23%. He made an unsafe turn at an intersection which caused a car crash with Nguyen Tran. Miranda’s truck then went up a curb and hit pedestrian Francisco Aquino. Aquino was pinned against a wall and had serious injuries. He died two days later in the hospital. After the accident, Miranda fled the scene and was arrested a short time later.

Miranda already had 3 prior DUI convictions and had been sentenced to 96 hours in jail and three years of probation for his last DUI. For this DUI manslaughter change, Miranda may face 20 years to life in prison, if convicted. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for October 23. Whether you live in Tustin, Santa Ana or Laguna Woods, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, call an experienced criminal defense attorney to assist you.

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Roger Avery, a screenwriter, director and producer, was sentenced to 1 year in jail and 5 years probation for DUI manslaughter. Avery, his wife, and his friend Andreas Zini went to dinner in January of 2008. They left the restaurant and Avery was intoxicated, but still decided to drive them home. Around 12:30am, Avery was going around 100 m.p.h. when he slammed into a pole. Zini was killed instantly and Avery and his wife received injuries. Police arrested Avery who had a blood alcohol level of .11%.

Prosecutors said Avery could have received 12 years for the crime, but he knew Avery was remorseful and this was his first crime, so they reduced the sentence. The court said that even though Avery would have to be in jail for one year, he may be able to work from jail through a work furlough program. While in jail he will also have to take alcohol classes.

Whether you live in Orange, Laguna Niguel or La Palma, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, you will need an experienced DUI defense attorney right away. A good defense attorney MAY be able to have your charges dropped or reduce your sentence, depending on the facts.

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Last week, Javier Hernandez was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence. Gloria Rodriguez, her husband Roman Alvarado and their son Marcos, were all walking along Tyler Street together. Hernandez was driving on that street with a blood alcohol level of .22%, when he accidentally drove off the road.

As Hernandez’s car came towards the three pedestrians. Alvarado saw the car coming and grabbed the baby and tried to climb up a fence, but Rodriguez did not get out of the way in time. She was struck and killed instantly. Hernandez was initially charged with murder since his mother and sister told him not to drive, but he was convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter instead. He will be sentenced in November.

Juries have consistently convicted defendants of murder if they learn that the defendant had been previously advised that driving drunk could result in someone’s death. This warning frequently comes in the form of an advisement on a guilty plea form the defendant initialed after agreeing to plead guilty in a prior DUI case. Among the many sad lessons here: If a court advises you during a guilty plea that when you drive drunk you could cause an accident that results in death drunk, and you are arrested while DUI, causing the death of another, you may very well be charged with murder.

Since he was convicted of manslaughter, it is unlikely that Hernandez will be sentenced for longer than 10 years since the manslaughter was an accident. He will, however, get a sentencing enhancement because his blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit. Whether you live in La Palma, Laguna Niguel or Santa Ana, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, call an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you.

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Ashley Johnigan, 24, was convicted on Tuesday of second-degree murder and drunken-driving charges. In 2008, Johnigan had just left a bar in Santa Ynez when she got into a 2-car collision with Laura Cleaves and Lisa Raines. Johnigan and Raines suffered minor injuries. Cleaves died instantly at the scene of the accident. She was a District Attorney in Santa Barbara.

Prosecutors argued that Johnigan’s blood alcohol was a .20%, which was the equivalent of drinking 16 drinks. The defense argued that although she admits she drove drunk, she was driving to get away from some men that were harassing at the bar and she was just trying to find a safe place to sober up.

Johnigan was sentenced to 15 years to life for the accident she caused. She can apply for parole once she has served 85% of her sentence. Whether you live in Orange, Santa Ana or Lake Forest, if you are charged with a DUI or DUI manslaughter, call an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you.

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