A man responsible for the death of three other people in a DUI-fueled crash in November of 2010 has pleaded guilty to an amended plea of a single count second-degree murder, as reported by the Chico Enterprise-Record.
The charges originally faced by R.B., 26, included two additional counts of second-degree murder, three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with two prior convictions, transportation of marijuana and possessing it for sale. All but the single count of second-degree murder was dismissed in the plea deal set up by the prosecution.
R.B. entered his new plea in Butte County Superior Court.
All three people that died: R.H., 29, S.A., 31 and C.Z, S.A.'s child, are represented in the single count.
Judge Steven Howell can still review the dismissed counts at R.B.'s scheduled sentencing on September 18.
R.B. pleaded guilty to felony DUI causing injury, with priors, in regards to injuries sustained by E.A. R.B. also admitted to two other prior DUI convictions in Tehama County.
The three people that died and the injured party, had been traveling, on November 14, 2010, in a GMC Sonoma pickup on 99 just south of the Butte-Tehama county line when they collided with a R.B.'s Dodge pickup headed north.
R.B. can be sentenced from 19 years to life in prison. Lynda Hunt, the supervising deputy district attorney, stated that R.B. must serve a minimum of 17 years before being considered for parole. Hunt added that the murder conviction counts as one strike in the state's three-strike law – and allows for a future sentence to be doubled.
Hunt said that the defense accepted the plea deal. If the case had gone to trial the offer would have been voided. Also according to Hunt, had the case been tried R.B. could have faced three life terms in prison if he was convicted for all three deaths.
Hunt contended that getting the plea offered and accepted allowed the families a swifter resolution.
Kevin Sears was the defense attorney that represented R.B. Sears stated that his client made a tough decision in accepting the plea deal, accepted responsibility for his actions and "understands it's his doing."
After the accident R.B.'s blood alcohol registered at twice the legal limit to drive – 0.17 percent. R.B., according to witness accounts, was seen speeding and swerving on the highway. In an effort to correct his driving maneuvers, R.B. allegedly tried to drive his vehicle from the wrong lane into the right one when he struck the truck driven by R.H.
R.B. admitted to CHP officers that he had just come from tending marijuana plants, and then purchasing beer, prior to the accident. He said he was feeling tired, buzzed and knew that he should not have been driving.
The CHP report concluded that R.B. was responsible for the accident.
If you are facing criminal charges relating to DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI contact a DUI attorney to represent you. A plea bargain can often change your final sentence.