| For Immediate Release Case # 14HF1105 April 1, 2014 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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DRUNKEN DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING 5-YEAR-OLD FEMALE RELATIVE AND INJURING THREE OTHER CHILDREN AFTER CRASHING VEHICLE
SANTA ANA – A drunken driver is scheduled to be arraigned today for killing a 5-year-old female relative and injuring three other children after crashing his vehicle. Antolin Brito Soto, 32, San Juan Capistrano, is charged with one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury, one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license, with sentencing enhancement allegations for personally inflicting great bodily injury, causing bodily injury and/or death to multiple victims, driving with a blood alcohol content of .15 percent or more, and great bodily injury to a child under five years old. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison. He is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon, April 1, 2014, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.
At approximately 6:50 p.m. on March 22, 2014, Soto is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol with four minor relatives in his Ford Explorer traveling westbound on Junipero Serra Road in San Juan Capistrano. The defendant is accused of driving at an unsafe speed through the parking lot of Silverado Senior Living Center, over a curb, and crashing into an embankment. The crash was reported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) by nearby residents.
Soto is accused of causing the crash that killed 5-year-old Yuliana B. The three other children, 2-year-old Ayleen B., 8-year-old Arthur B., and 12-year-old Iriana S. were transported to local hospitals and treated for their injuries.
Soto is accused of displaying objective signs of intoxication and had a blood alcohol content of .18 percent one hour and a half after the crash.
The investigation by OCSD is ongoing. Deputy District Attorney Anna McIntire of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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