| For Immediate Release August 15, 2006 |
Contact: | Susan Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel (714) 347-8408 Office (714) 323-4486 Cell |
UNLICENSED DRUNK DRIVER WITH PRIOR RECORD
TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MURDER
SANTA ANA – An unlicensed drunk driver will be arraigned today for killing a man after running a red light and crashing into cross traffic. Yovany Maldonado, 24, of Santa Ana, is charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with a prior conviction, driving under the influence of alcohol and with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury with one prior, and driving a motor vehicle without a valid license. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned today at 1:30 p.m. in department C55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On August 11, 2006, Maldonado is accused of driving at 60 miles per hour through a red light at the intersection of 1st and Standard in Santa Ana. He is accused of crashing his car into the side of a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Sam Bunn, who died instantly from the impact. The defendant is accused of being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, having a blood alcohol level of .20 percent.
In 2004, the defendant plead guilty to a misdemeanor for driving under the influence of alcohol. A witness called police after seeing Maldonado crash his car into a fire hydrant and a parked vehicle. He abandoned his car prior to the arrival of the police. His blood alcohol level was above .08 percent. Maldonado plead guilty was placed on three years probation and ordered to complete mandatory alcohol classes. He failed to enroll in the classes and a probation violation warrant was issued. The warrant for Maldonado was still active at the time of his arrest on August 11, 2006.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Margaret Roper of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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