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

2. 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

3. GROSS V.M. WHILE INTOXICATED
Penal Code Section 191.5(a)
Punishment: 4 – 6 – 10 years
SERIOUS FELONY ( PC; Peo. v. Gonzales (1994) 29 CA4th 1684)
“STRIKE” – 667(c) PC, 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 GBI allegation must be pled and proven, see 667.5(c)(8).

4. 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

5. 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 )

6. 191.5(a) PC: Multiple Deaths / Injuries, Same Incident
INJURED VICTIMS OTHER THAN DECEASED
IF GBI SUSTAINED: 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: VC
One year for each additional victim, up to 3
(a)= +3
(b)= 5
(c) = + 5
(d) = + 4,5,6

7. 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: 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)
mos. = 8y 50% Conduct Credits
CT 1: 191.5(a) PC
Victim 1
Alleg: (a)PC
Victim 2
Alleg: VC
Victim 3
CT 1 = 4 – 6 – 10
(a) = 3 consec.
= 1 consec.
Total (assuming mid-term)
= 10 15%
Conduct Credits
(only 1 “strike,” though)
Note: In scenario 1, you get 2 STRIKES; In scenario 2, you only get one

8. 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)

9. 191.5(b) PC: The 23153 VC + GBI Conundrum (Single Deceased Victim)
CT 1: 191.5(b) PC
16m – 2 – 4 50 % Conduct Credits
Maximum Possible Actual Time: 2 years
CT 1: VC
Alleg: (a) PC
16m – 2 – 3 yrs.
Plus 3 yrs. consec.; 15% Conduct Credits
Maximum Possible Actual Time: 5 years, 1 mo. +

10. THE Binkerd CAVEAT CT 1: 191.5(b) PC, Guilty CT 2: 23153 VC, Guilty
Alleg: (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!

11. THE Binkerd CAVEAT Peo. v. Binkerd (2007) 155 CA 4th 1143
“Under the statutory elements test, the violation of Vehicle Code section 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 cannot stand.”

12. “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: (a), 191.5(b), 192(c)(1), 192(c)(2), VC, VC
Peo. v. Sanchez (2001) 24 Cal.4th 983

13. “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.”

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