VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER: Sentencing Impact of Charging Choices Creg G. Datig Director – TSRP Program CDAA

VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER WITH INTOXICATION: Charges Penal Code Section 191.5 (a): Gross Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated (b): Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated (d): “Courtney’s Law” – 191.5(a) with Specified Prior(s) Alleged

GROSS V.M. WHILE INTOXICATED Penal Code Section 191.5(a) Punishment: 4 – 6 – 10 years SERIOUS FELONY (1192.8 PC; Peo. v. Gonzales (1994) 29 CA4th 1684) “STRIKE” – 667(c) PC, 1170.12 PC NOT a “violent felony” pursuant to 667.5(c) PC 50% CONDUCT CREDITS, 2933(a) PC Probation eligible (See, e.g., Peo. v. Weaver (2007) 149 CA4th 1301) NOTE: Irreduceable felony; NOT a violent felony per 667.5(c); In order to be violent, a 12022.7 GBI allegation must be pled and proven, see 667.5(c)(8).

191.5(a) PC: Lesser Offenses 191.5(b) PC Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated 192(c)(1) PC Gross Vehicular Manslaughter (without intox.) 192(c)(2) PC Vehicular Manslaughter (misdemeanor) 23153 VC DUI Causing Injury 23152 VC DUI

191.5(a) PC: Multiple Deaths / Injuries, Same Incident SEPARATE 191.5(a) COUNT for each victim: Consecutive punishment OK Peo. v. MacFarland (1989) 47 Cal.3d 798 GBI ALLEGATION(S) for deceased victims other than “primary vic” named in 191.5(a) count: OK Peo. v. Weaver (2007) 149 CA4th 1301 Multiple GBI Allegations may be alleged for multiple deceased victims Peo. v. Arndt (1999) 76 CA4th 387 GBI Allegation(s) turn the 191.5(a) into a 667.5(c) violent felony: only 15% conduct credit. (PC 2933.1)

191.5(a) PC: Multiple Deaths / Injuries, Same Incident INJURED VICTIMS OTHER THAN DECEASED IF GBI SUSTAINED: 12022.7 PC (a): Victim over 5 yrs. old (b): Coma or Paralysis (c): Victim 70 yrs. of age or older (d): Victim less than 5 yrs. old INJURY, NOT GBI: 23558 VC One year for each additional victim, up to 3 12022.7(a)= +3 (b)= 5 (c) = + 5 (d) = + 4,5,6

191.5(a) PC: Scenario – 2 Deceased Victims, 1 Injured (not GBI) CT 1: 191.5(a) PC Victim 1 CT 2: 191.5(a) PC Victim 2 CT 3: 23153 VC Victim 3 ______________________________________________________________________ CT 1 = 4 – 6 – 10 CT 2 = 1/3 (6) consec. CT 3 = 1/3 (2) consec. Total (assuming mid-term CT 1) 6 + 2 + 8 mos. = 8y 8mos @ 50% Conduct Credits CT 1: 191.5(a) PC Victim 1 Alleg: 12022.7(a)PC Victim 2 Alleg: 23558 VC Victim 3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CT 1 = 4 – 6 – 10 + 12022.7(a) = 3 consec. + 23558 = 1 consec. Total (assuming mid-term) 6 + 3 + 1 = 10 yrs @ 15% Conduct Credits (only 1 “strike,” though) Note: In scenario 1, you get 2 STRIKES; In scenario 2, you only get one

VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER WHILE INTOXICATED Penal Code Section 191.5(b) Punishment: Wobbler / 16m – 2 – 4 SERIOUS FELONY “STRIKE” 50% CONDUCT CREDITS Probation Eligible Lesser Offenses Multiple Deaths / Injuries Considerations (same as 191.5(a) PC)

191.5(b) PC: The 23153 VC + GBI Conundrum (Single Deceased Victim) CT 1: 191.5(b) PC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16m – 2 – 4 yrs. @ 50 % Conduct Credits Maximum Possible Actual Time: 2 years CT 1: 23153 VC Alleg: 12022.7(a) PC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16m – 2 – 3 yrs. Plus 3 yrs. consec.; 15% Conduct Credits Maximum Possible Actual Time: 5 years, 1 mo. +

THE Binkerd CAVEAT CT 1: 191.5(b) PC, Guilty CT 2: 23153 VC, Guilty Alleg: 12022.7(a) PC, Admitted Court sentences defendant on Count 2 plus the GBI allegation, stays sentence on Count 1 per PC Section 654. Sounds Good, Right? WRONG!

THE Binkerd CAVEAT Peo. v. Binkerd (2007) 155 CA 4th 1143 “Under the statutory elements test, the violation of Vehicle Code section 23153 is necessarily a lesser included offense [of 191.5(b) PC, (formerly 192(c)(3) PC)], and appellant cannot be convicted of violating both statutes. Appellants conviction… for violating VC section 23153 cannot stand.”

“Courtney’s Law” Penal Code Section 191.5(d) Punishment: 15 yrs. to Life “Watson” MURDER FALLBACK (usually) If qualifying priors are available and alleged SERIOUS FELONY STRIKE LESSER OFFENSES (Compare) 187 PC: 192(b) PC (involuntary manslaughter) 191.5(d) PC: 191.5(a), 191.5(b), 192(c)(1), 192(c)(2), 23153 VC, 23152 VC Peo. v. Sanchez (2001) 24 Cal.4th 983

“Courtney’s Law”: 2 Penal Code Section 191.5(d) MINIMUM PAROLE ELIGIBILITY (Compare): 187 PC: 15 years (See In re Cervera (2001) 24 Cal.4th 1073) 191.5(d)PC: 7 ½ years “Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 2930)… shall apply to reduce the term imposed pursuant to this subdivision.”

THE TSRP PROGRAM DOING JUSTICE PROTECTING LIVES Funding for this program provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through NHTSA