As Rancho Cucamonga DUI criminal defense lawyers, we were interested to see a guilty plea in a vehicular manslaughter case involving drunk driving. The Orange County Register reported Oct. 29 on Jessica Lynn Shekell, 23, who pleaded guilty to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence. By doing that, Shekell acknowledged that she killed two women and injured two girls when she drove the wrong way on the 91 freeway in 2009. The Orange County District Attorney's office said Shekell's blood-alcohol content was 0.26 at the time of the crash, more than three times the legal limit. At her December sentencing, she could get up to 19 years and eight months in prison.
Witnesses spotted Shekell's car going east in the westbound lanes around 2:55 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2009. The Long Beach Press-Telegram said she'd been drinking with friends in Placentia. Witnesses said Shekell dodged several cars at about 50 mph. Two California Highway Patrol officers were trying to stop Shekell, but before they could, she crashed head-on into a pickup truck driven by Sally Miguel, 49. Also in the car were Miguel's sister Patricia Miguel, 30, and their nieces Mary Miguel, 15, and Sara Miguel, 11. The Miguels were coming home from a trip to Knott's Berry Farm. The women died at the scene. The girls suffered internal injuries, and Mary Miguel suffered a permanent hip injury. The prosecutor in the case recommended state prison, and the Miguel family said they would prefer something more than probation. Shekell's DUI defense lawyer said he would ask for jail and community service rather than prison.
One thing that caught our eye about this story was that Shekell pleaded guilty without a plea bargain. That is not the normal course of action for any defendant, because a guilty plea is typically used as a bargaining chip in our system. A guilty plea is good for prosecutors because it's an automatic win and for the courts because it case short, saving badly needed resources. In exchange for that plea, prosecutors typically offer lower penalties than the maximum. By pleading guilty without a deal, Shekell has exposed herself to the maximum penalty. We can only assume she did this because she is genuinely ready to take responsibility for the accident, and that's commendable. But experienced Irvine drunk driving criminal defense attorneys typically try to use guilty pleas to the client's advantage, to win a guarantee of a more reasonable sentence.
Howard Law, P.C. advises clients and potential clients never to plead guilty before speaking to us about their situations. When it comes to drunk driving, many clients believe they have no choice but to plead guilty if the BAC test implicated them. We understand the temptation to "get it over with," but a DUI conviction can have a serious and wide-ranging effect on your life. In addition to losing your driver's license, you could face jail, community service, probation, alcohol education classes and thousands of dollars in fees and fines. In addition, a drunk driving conviction makes your auto insurance rates skyrocket, making it harder to drive even when your license is restored. Our Brea intoxicated driving criminal defense lawyershelp clients avoid these penalties by fighting the charges whenever possible and defending their rights to drive.
If you're charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in California, you should speak to Howard Law, P.C. as soon as possible about your rights and your case. To learn more or set up a free consultation, contact us through our website or call 1-800-872-5925 today.
