| For Immediate Release Case # 11CF1355 February 1, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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DRIVER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS FACES TRIAL FOR MURDERING PEDESTRIAN AND INJURING TWO OCCUPANTS OF ANOTHER CAR IN CRASH AFTER RUNNING RED LIGHT
*Defendant is also charged with additional counts for the forgery of drug prescriptions
SANTA ANA – A driver with two prior convictions for driving under the influence faces trial today for murdering a pedestrian and injuring two occupants of another car in a drug-induced crash after running a red light. Adam Harrison Hall, 29, Placentia, is charged with one felony count of murder, one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, two felony counts of obtaining or possessing drugs secured by a forged prescription, and one felony count of forgery of prescription, with sentencing enhancements and allegations for causing bodily injury and causing great bodily injury or death to more than one victim. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 21 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are scheduled to begin this morning, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-27, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
At approximately 11:10 a.m. on Feb. 13, 2011, Hall is accused of driving northbound on Moulton Parkway while under the influence of drugs in the City of Laguna Niguel in a Ford sport utility vehicle (SUV). At the intersection of Moulton Parkway and Nueva Vista Drive, Hall is accused of driving through a red light and crashing into a Toyota SUV that was passing legally through the intersection. The force of the crash caused both vehicles to lose control. The Toyota spun 360 degrees before coming to a stop. The occupants, Steven James and Anna Gaffney, were both injured in the crash. Gaffney suffered a fractured collar bone and James suffered severe bruising.
As a result of the crash, Hall is accused of losing control of his vehicle and driving up the curb onto the sidewalk. He is accused of crashing into victim Mara Lynnes Steves, 48, who was walking a dog in the area. Hall is accused of murdering Steves, who died as a result of her injuries.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene and investigated this case. At the time of the crash, Hall is accused of being under the influence of drugs including methamphetamine, Diazepam, Nordiazepam, Alprazolam, Hydroxyalprazolam, Oxazepam, Temazepam, amphetamine, Morphine, and 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahyrocannabinol (THCA).
On May 20, 2011, Hall is accused of calling a female acquaintance, Elizabeth Rene Parker, who worked in a doctor’s office where the defendant is not a patient to request prescription drugs Hall was not prescribed to. Parker pretended to be one of her co-workers and called a CVS drugstore to order a prescription of Norco under Hall’s name. Hall is accused of entering the drugstore and picking up a prescription of Norco.
On May 23, 2011, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Hall for murder.