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In April of this year, Felipe Navarro Orona was driving on the I-5 freeway in Anaheim at 3 a.m. He was severely intoxicated and started driving in the shoulder lane. Jose Castellanos and Joe Rodriguez were in the shoulder lane fixing a flat tire when Orona came crashing into them. Castellano died at the scene due to blunt force trauma to the head and Rodriguez was badly injured. Officers noted that Orona appeared intoxicated due to his slurred speech and bloodshot and watery eyes. Police tested his blood alcohol level two hours after the incident and his blood alcohol level was at a .15%. This is almost double the legal limit. He was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter and gross negligence while intoxicated with a sentencing enhancement for great bodily harm. He pled guilty to these charges and faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in prison.

With a legal limit at almost double the legal limit, two hours after the crash, it is hard to imagine how high his alcohol level was at the time of the accident. Being a DUI defense attorney, I often hear my client say they drove because they didn’t know they were that intoxicated. This excuse would likely not work in a case like this since anyone at a .15% or above should know they are too drunk to drive. Other possible defenses include improper blood alcohol results, road conditions and police misconduct. Whether you live in Irvine, Santa Ana or Laguna Woods, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, call an experienced DUI defense attorney right away to assist you.

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On January 12, 2008 at 10 a.m., Tomeka Charee Harris fell asleep at the wheel while under the influence of a methamphetamine. She lost control of her car as she was exiting an off ramp at a high rate of speed and crashed into a fence and a utility pole. Harris, her boyfriend and her 2-year-old daughter were all rushed to the hospital. Her daughter, Zharia Keheian, and her boyfriend, Alfred Flores, had been killed. She was arrested for vehicular manslaughter by unlawful act and gross negligence while intoxicated. She was charged with these crimes and pled guilty to both of them this week. She is expected to be sentenced to 6 years in prison, in return for her guilty plea.

It is always a serious reality check when someone drives drunk and kills someone. They are normally given some form of punishment that reminds them not to do it again. In Harris’ case, everyday she has to live with the thought of killing her daughter and boyfriend. Killing someone can be a serious consequence of driving while under the influence and anyone who drives while intoxicated risks killing themselves or someone else. Whether you live in Santa Ana, Newport Beach or Lake Forest, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, call an experienced DUI defense attorney right away to assist you.

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At 3 a.m. on Monday morning, Jessica Shekell was driving west on the eastbound FasTrak lane of the 91 freeway in Anaheim. Drivers called 911 to report a car driving against the flow of traffic. About 6 minutes later, the Miguel Family of San Bernardino was driving along the same freeway. Shekell slammed into their car and the driver, Sally Miguel was killed instantly. Patricia Miguel, who was in the front seat and her two nieces were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Patricia died in the hospital. Shekell was taken to the hospital as well and doctors and officers believed that she was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

Shekell is only 21-years-old and probably did not know the affects of alcohol on her body. Unfortunately for her, she may face prison time for her negligent actions. She should have known better than to drink and drive. Whether you live in Westminster, Laguna Niguel or Brea, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, call an experienced DUI defense attorney right away.

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In March of this year, in San Luis Obispo, Martin Joel Whited was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol but was not tested or arrested. At the time of the DUI, Whited was an administrative captain in the Coastal Division headquarters of the California Highway Patrol. After the DUI, he was demoted to lieutenant and is working in Modesto for the California Highway Patrol. This month, the county District Attorney’s office filed a misdemeanor complaint against Whited for the DUI and he is scheduled to be arraigned in December.

It is likely quite embarrassing for Whited to be charged with a DUI, since he is a California Highway Patrol officer. He, of all people, should know the dangers of drinking and driving and he should be doing everything in his power to make the streets safer. As his sentence, he will likely receive probation and have to pay court fees.

Whether you live in Orange County, Riverside County or Los Angeles County, if you are charged with a DUI, call an experienced DUI defense attorney right away.

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This month, in Temecula, an officer was trying to manage traffic near a two-car collision on Pala Temecula Road. Nicholas Gabbard approached the accident site in his vehicle, without slowing down. The officer attempted to get out of the way but Gabbard hit him in the ankles and drove off. Gabbard then turned around and approached the scene again, this time hitting an ambulance and fire truck. Officers arrested him for felony DUI, felony hit and run and driving on a suspended license. The injured officer was taken to the hospital and was later released.

Driving drunk and hitting a person is a serious offense, especially when the person you hit is an officer. If you ever hit a person or a car, make sure to stop and get out of your car. Exchange insurance information if you hit a car. If you hit a person, make sure they are alright and call the police. Leaving the scene of the crime shows that you wanted to get away from the crime instead of face responsibility. Whether you live in Santa Ana, Irvine or Yorba Linda, if you are charged with a DUI, call an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you. Possible defenses to a DUI charge include: improper field sobriety tests, machine failure for blood alcohol testing, road conditions and medical conditions.

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On Wednesday night, 80-year-old Edelgard Owens was riding her bicycle on the sidewalk of East Imperial Highway in Yorba Linda. She started to cross Prospect Avenue when a white pick-up truck slammed into her. She was immediately taken to the hospital, but was pronounced dead. Initially, there was speculation that Owens did not have the right to cross at that time. Later, that was ruled out after officers interviewed the driver of the truck and realized she may have been driving under the influence. After issuing field sobriety tests, officers realized she was intoxicated and arrested her under suspicion of DUI manslaughter.

It is unfortunate that a woman had to die because of another’s negligence. Regardless if the traffic light was red for the bicyclist, if there was an accident and officers found out that the driver was drunk, she would still get a DUI. Sentences for DUI manslaughter range from probation to years in prison. Whether you live in Villa Park, Lake Forest or Anaheim, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, call an experienced DUI defense attorney right away.

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With all of the Angels games taking place in Anaheim this week, Anaheim has been in full party mode. Most fans love to tailgate before the game, drink during the game, party after the game, and then drive home. Of course, this leads to many driving under the influence charges for the fans. Because of this, Anaheim Police have decided to step up patrolling the area since they recently received an anti-DUI grant from the state to pay for saturation police and DUI checkpoints. Police are constantly reminding Angels fans about the ill fate of rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart and his two friends who were killed by a suspected drunk driver earlier this year. Police want to remind the fans to drink responsibly and avoid the roads if you have been drinking.

It is so unfortunate that Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver and could not see how far the Angels got in the playoffs. It is a harsh reality that drunk drivers are out on the streets everyday and are killing and hurting themselves and others. Police remind drivers to report drunk drivers since it is an emergency that requires police assistance right away. Whether you live in Santa Ana, Brea or Laguna Niguel, if you are charged with a DUI, call an experienced DUI defense attorney right away.

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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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This weekend, after partying at a cast-mate’s birthday party, the “Hills” reality star Stephanie Pratt was arrested for a DUI. Officers issued field sobriety tests and breathalyzer test results stated Pratt had a blood alcohol level of .08% and a .09%, which put her at and above the legal limit. She was arrested and taken to jail and then released on $5,000 bail. As she was getting arrested, people in the streets saw her and started taking pictures, which led to a fight among on-lookers. No one was arrested for the fight.

Pratt had reportedly had substance abuse problems before moving to Los Angeles. Often, drinking is the first step that leads back to a destructive habit. Since this is Pratt’s first DUI, she will likely not face jail time and instead have to pay fees and possibly get her license revoked. Whether you live in Tustin, Lake Forest or Anaheim Hills, if you are charged with a DUI, call an experienced DUI defense attorney right away to assist you. The attorney may be able to fight the charges if there was an error in the breathalyzer equipment.

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