Friday, May 21, 2010

Los Alamitos Man Pleads Guilty to DUI Related Assault on Officer

Posted by CotoBlogzz 05-21-2010  09:00 PM

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - Matthew Van McDaniel pleaded guilty today to recklessly driving under the influence of alcohol into a correctional facility and assaulting a facility officer.  McDaniel, 25, pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated assault on an officer, one felony count of an ex-convict entering grounds of a correctional facility, one misdemeanor count of reckless driving, one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol, one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood level of .08 percent or more, and a sentencing enhancement for great bodily injury was found true. McDaniel's 2003 prior strike conviction for assault with a deadly weapon was also admitted. He was sentenced to nine years in state prison.




At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Jan. 10, 2010, McDaniel was driving under the influence of alcohol. He rushed the gates of the James Musick Correctional Facility in Irvine and drove a Mercedes Benz S550 into the facility. He recklessly drove inside the property and crashed the car into a tree. Sergeant Fabris, a facility officer, tried to restrain the defendant, but McDaniel punched the officer in the face while trying to escape. McDaniel was restrained by facility officers and exhibited signs of intoxication including slurred speech and emitting an odor of alcohol from his breath. During the booking process, the defendant had a blood alcohol level of .14 percent.



Deputy District Attorney Nikki Chambers prosecuted this case.

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