Posts Tagged ‘DUI’

OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICER CONVICTED OF CRASHING MOTORCYCLE AND INJURYING WIFE ON FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

WESTMINSTER - An off-duty deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was convicted and sentenced today for crashing his motorcycle on the freeway and injuring his wife while driving under the influence of alcohol. Richard J. Patterson, 38, West Covina, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood alcohol .08 percent or more causing injury. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, three years of informal probation, nine months of a first offender alcohol program, and completion of a Mother’s Against Drunk Driving Victim’s Impact Panel.

At approximately 6:25 p.m. on July 5, 2011, Patterson was driving a motorcycle while intoxicated northbound on the Interstate 405 near Brookhurst Street. His wife was riding on the back of the motorcycle. The defendant crashed his motorcycle into the back of a moving vehicle.

Patterson and his wife were both transported to Western Medical Center. The defendant was treated for injuries to his hip and his wife suffered a knee injury and abrasions to her arms and hand. The occupants of the other vehicle were not injured.

Two hours after the crash, Patterson had blood alcohol level of .15 percent, almost twice the legal limit.

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UNLICENSED, UNINSURED TEEN DRIVER CHARGED WITH KILLING FRIEND IN CRASH WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Sunday, November 27th, 2011

SANTA ANA - An unlicensed, uninsured teen driver has been charged with killing his friend by crashing into a tree on Ortega Highway while driving under the influence of prescription drugs. Francisco Jesus Ochoa, 18, Lake Elsinore, is charged with one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a valid license, and an infraction for failing to maintain liability insurance. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and eight months in state prison. The defendant is currently being treated at Mission Hospital for a broken leg and his arraignment date is to be determined. The People will be requesting Ochoa be held on $100,000 bail at his arraignment.

Early in the morning on Nov. 18, 2011, Ochoa is accused of driving a Ford pick-up truck without a valid license or insurance westbound on Ortega Highway with friend Margarita Estrella in the front passenger seat. The defendant is accused of swerving and weaving across the two-lane highway for several miles, crossing back and forth onto the wrong side of the road and onto the dirt shoulders on either side.

At approximately 6:45 a.m., Ochoa is accused of veering off the road, failing to slow, and crashing directly into a tree. He is accused of killing Estrella, who was crushed in her seat and pronounced dead at the scene.

At the time of the crash, the defendant is accused of being under the influence of prescription drugs, which impaired his ability to drive. He is also accused of being in possession of six Vicodin pills at the time of the crash, for which he did not have a prescription.

Ochoa was transported to the hospital to be treated for a broken leg.

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DRIVER CHARGED WITH MURDERING PEDESTRIAN

Friday, May 27th, 2011

DRIVER CHARGED WITH MURDERING PEDESTRIAN AND INJURING TWO OCCUPANTS OF ANOTHER CAR AFTER RUNNING RED LIGHT AND CRASHING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS

SANTA ANA – A driver with two prior convictions for driving under the influence has been charged with murdering a pedestrian and injuring two occupants of another car in a drug-induced crash after running a red light. Adam Harrison Hall, 27, Placentia, is charged with one felony count of murder and one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury with sentencing enhancements and allegations for causing bodily injury and causing great bodily injury or death to more than one victim. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 21 years to life in state prison. Hall was arrested today by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) and is being held on $1 million bail. He is expected to be arraigned tomorrow, Wednesday, May 25, 2011, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.  The time is to be determined.

At approximately 11:10 a.m. on Feb. 13, 2011, Hall is accused of driving northbound on Moulton Parkway while under the influence of drugs in the City of Laguna Niguel in a Ford sport utility vehicle (SUV). At the intersection of Moulton Parkway and Nueva Vista Drive, Hall is accused of driving through a red light and crashing into a Toyota SUV that was passing legally through the intersection. The force of the crash caused both vehicles to lose control.  The Toyota spun 360 degrees before coming to a stop. The occupants, Steven James and Anna Gaffney, were both injured in the crash. Gaffney suffered a fractured collar bone and James suffered severe bruising.

As a result of the crash, Hall is accused of losing control of his vehicle and driving up the curb onto the sidewalk. He is accused of crashing into victim Mara Lynnes Steves, 48, who was walking in the area attempting to locate the owner of a stray dog. Hall is accused of murdering Steves, who died as a result of her injuries. Hall is also accused of hitting the dog, a labrador retriever named Max, leaving a tire mark on the animal and requiring it to undergo emergency veterinary services. Steves was honored after her death by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals for her efforts in helping the lost dog.

OCSD responded to the scene and investigated this case. At the time of the crash, Hall is accused of being under the influence of drugs including methamphetamine, Diazepam, Nordiazepam, Alprazolam, Hydroxyalprazolam, Oxazepam, Temazepam, amphetamine, Morphine, and 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahyrocannabinol (THCA).

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Was 90 days a just punishment for Lindsay Lohan?

Friday, July 9th, 2010

On July 6, 2010, Judge Marsha Revel, a Beverly Hills judge, sentenced actress Lindsay Lohan to 90 days in jail for violating the terms of her probation. Ms. Lohan cried and begged Judge Revell for another chance to try to successfully complete her probation.

Ms. Lohan claimed that she did her best to comply with the terms and conditions of probation. But, Judge Revel cited a number of times in which the actress lied to the court and to authorities. Judge Revel sentenced Ms. Lohan to three 30-day sentences and also ordered her to spend 90 days in a locked-down drug rehabilitation facility. Should Judge Revel have given Ms. Lohan another chance or was the 90 days in jail and 90 days in a residential rehabilitation facility just punishment?

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Posted in Los Angeles Criminal attorney | 3 Comments »

Ignition Interlock Bill Passes in California

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Guest Author Blog Article

Ignition interlock devices function similarly to breath analysis machines in that the driver must blow into a tube to have his or her breath alcohol content analyzed. If the driver’s reading is above legal limits, the car will simply lock up and the driver will be unable to turn it on.

California DUI defense attorneys have been waiting for the new, pilot Ignition Interlock Device (IID) law to take effect, requiring even first offenders to install an IID in four counties only.This pilot program goes from July 1, 2010, to January 1, 2016, in only the Counties of Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Tulare.

It requires, as a condition of being issued a restricted driver’s license, being reissued a driver’s license, or having the privilege to operate a motor vehicle reinstated subsequent to a conviction for a violation of DUI offenses (California Vehicle Code Section 23152), a person to install for a specified period of time an ignition interlock device on all vehicles he or she owns or operates unless exempted (see attached DMV notices). The amount of time the ignition interlock device would be required to be installed would be based upon the number of convictions, as prescribed.

The statute specifies IID terms below in the target counties

(7) A person is required to install an ignition interlock device for the applicable term as a condition of being issued a restricted driver’s license, being reissued a driver’s license, or having the privilege to operate a motor vehicle reinstated subsequent to a conviction for a violation or a suspension of a person’s driver’s license, as follows:

(A) A person convicted of a violation of Section 23152 shall be required to install an ignition interlock device, as follows:
(i) Upon a first offense, the person shall install an ignition interlock device in all vehicles owned or operated by that person for a mandatory term of five months.
(ii) Upon a second offense, the person shall install an ignition interlock device in  all vehicles owned or operated by that person for a mandatory term of 12 months.
(iii) Upon a third offense, the person shall install an ignition interlock device in all vehicles owned or operated by that person for a mandatory term of 24 months.
(iv) Upon a fourth offense or any subsequent violation, the person shall install an ignition interlock device in all vehicles owned or operated by that person for a mandatory term of 36 months.

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