An 18-year-old Orange County man was reportedly the first juvenile to be charged as an adult with murder in a drunk driving crash. According to this news report, he was 17 at the time of the Orange County DUI accident, which killed his teen passenger, a Tustin girl. An Orange County jury found the teen driver guilty of one count of second-degree murder for being drunk behind the wheel and one misdemeanor count of driving without a license. His driver’s license had apparently been suspended the day before the fatal car accident.
The teen driver reportedly had several drinks during a party in his Santa Ana home and crashed into a pole while driving his Mercedes between 102 and 112 mph, prosecutors said. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.11 percent, which is above the legal limit of 0.08 percent. The teen, convicted of DUI and second-degree murder, faces 15 years to life in state prison when he is sentenced in October.
If you or a loved one is facing felony DUI, vehicular manslaughter or other charges relating to an alcohol-related crash, please contact an experienced Orange County drunk driving defense lawyer at Sitkoff & Hanrahan for a free and confidential consultation. A DUI charge in itself can be a frightening and intimidating experience for many, especially if you have been charged for the first time. Please understand that you have rights and our DUI defense attorneys are former deputy district attorneys who know the law and local courts. We will fight to make sure your rights are protected and obtain the best result possible. Please call us today at 866-430-8383 to find out how we can help.
Source report: http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-oc-teen-murder,0,3311427.story?track=rss