Mehdi, Convicted of DUI-related Killing of girl gets One Year over OCDA’s Objection

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Posted by CotoBlogzz

 
Lake Forest, CA,   - Soroosh Lee Mehdi,  was convicted today of killing an 8-year-old girl and injuring her aunt and aunt's boyfriend after crashing into their car while driving up to 80 mph.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) office, Mehdi, 28, Trabuco Canyon, pleaded guilty to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter by unlawful act with gross negligence with sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury to two victims. He was sentenced to one year in jail and three years of formal probation. The OCDA objected to the sentence, arguing that the defendant should be sentenced to state prison due to the seriousness of his conduct. 

According to the OCDA, at approximately 5:30 p.m. on May 24, 2009, Mehdi was speeding up to 80 mph in a 50 mph zone on El Toro Road in Lake Forest in his BMW sedan. At El Toro Road and Toledo Way, Mehdi crossed through the intersection against a yellow light and made an unsafe lane change.

The defendant crashed into the driver's side of a Chevrolet sport utility vehicle, driven by 27-year-old Jose Cervantes. Cervantes lost control of his vehicle due to the force of the impact and crashed into a wood utility pole. Cervantes had been driving with his girlfriend Magdalena Curiel Topete and Topete's niece Jasmine Sanchez as passengers. 

The defendant killed Jasmine, who died at the scene, by causing her to suffer blunt force trauma injuries. Topete, 21 years old, suffered lacerations to her face and liver. Cervantes suffered lacerations to his face and forehead. 

Deputy District Attorney Jason Baez of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.