Santa Ana, Orange County - Last week, 39-year old Patricia Ann Izquieta of Riverside, was sentenced to three years in state prison for killing Donald Murphy due to driving under the influence (DUI) and hit and run.
He pled guilty to one felony hit and run with permanent death or injury, one felony count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, and one misdemeanor count of driving without a valid license with a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury.due to driving under the influence and , a bicyclist, by crashing into him and then fleeing the scene.
Moreover, Izquieta plead guilty to vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence.
On December 9, 2009, Izquieta was driving her Saturn SUV in Newport Beach in the far right hand lane. Donald Murphy was cycling along the curbside of the road behind two of his friends. It was reported that Izquieta drifted towards the curb and hit Murphy from behind causing Murphy to be thrown from this bicycle to the curb rendering him unconscious.
Izquieta fled the scene and dragged Murphy's bicycle under her vehicle and was found by police about a mile down the road. Izquieta's vehicle sustained significant damage to the front hood and windshield of her car from the collision.
It was later determined that Izquieta had taken prescription medications / narcotics that early morning prior to the crash that impaired her driving including Methadone, Hydromorphone and Clonezepam.
According to top Orange County Drug Defense Lawyers, Michael Guisti
states that in California there are many different types of drug crime charges including possession of an uncontrolled substance, being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of cocaine, and selling cocaine. Being under the influence of a controlled substance can be found in the California Health & Safety Code, section 11550(a).
Our Newport Beach criminal attorney and Santa Ana drug crime lawyers explain that it is illegal to be under the influence of a controlled substance. This includes drugs like Medthadone, Hydromorphone, Clonezepam, Opana, Oxycodone, Zolpidem, Hydrocodone, methamphetamines, cocaine and PCP, among others. If convicted of this charge you can face up to one year in jail, be ordered to go through a drug rehab program and pay fines. An Orange County drug crime lawyer familiar with drug crime charges can help those facing drug charges.
Penal Code 191.5(a) PC California's gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated law or otherwise known as "GVMI", is a felony punishable by up to ten years in the state prison (15 years-to-life if you have a prior DUI conviction).
Penal Code 191.5(a) states in pertinent part: "Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence.
(b) Vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, but without gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, but without gross negligence."
How can you be successful in defending your vehicular manslaughter or drug crime case? Hire a strong and powerful Orange County criminal defense attorney or Westminster drug crimes defense lawyer.
At the Law Office of Michael Guisti, we have spent many years representing defendants that have been charged with a drug crime or possession of a controlled substance. In many cases wherein defendants have faced misdemeanor or felony charges, our experienced Orange County criminal defense attorney has been able to successfully reduce charges and sometimes obtain a dismissal. We help clients in Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Bernardino Counties.
If you or a loved one is facing a felony or misdemeanor charge including assault, battery, domestic violence, robbery, grand theft, petty theft, sex crime, or if you need a Newport Beach white collar crime defense attorney to help you with you white collar crime charge call our office today. Our experienced Orange County Appellate lawyer has also been successful in representing clients with filing petition for writs, appeals and/or Habeas Corpus cases. Call our office toll free today at 1-888-478-8999 or visit our website at www.topcaliofornialawyer.com. You'll be glad you did!
