The OC Justice - Victim is famous, you get life, otherwise DUI treatment is fine.

Posted by CotoBlogzz 12-22-2010

SANTA ANA, CA -  Andrew Thomas Gallo  was sentenced today to 51 years to life in state prison for murdering three people, including a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball player, and injuring a fourth victim in an early-morning car crash, according to the Orange County Districy Attorney's (OCDA) office.

Gallo, 23, San Gabriel, was found guilty by a jury Sept. 27, 2010, of three felony counts of murder, one felony count of fleeing the scene of a traffic collision involving death or permanent injury, one felony count of driving under the influence causing injury, and one felony count of driving with a .08 percent blood alcohol causing injury.  Gallo has a prior San Bernardino County conviction for driving under the influence in 2006 and was on probation for this conviction at the time of the crash.

On the other hand, Jessica Lynn Shekell was convicted October 28, 2010, for killing two sisters and injuring their two nieces by crashing head-on into their vehicle while driving the wrong direction on the freeway.  Shekell, 22, Anaheim, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, one felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol level over .08 percent causing bodily injury, and sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury. Shekell faces a maximum sentence of 19 years and eight months in state prison.

But wait, there is more: Trevor Mark Coffman,  convicted of causing a high-speed freeway crash, killing two elderly passengers and severely injuring their elderly driver, is  expected to be sentenced to four years in state prison at his sentencing hearing Jan. 7, 2011, while  Hope-y, Change-y Judge Robert Fitzgerald  gives treatment to DUI driver who kills pedestrian in Hit& Run Incident.

A pattern seems to be emergeing from the OC:  If the victim is famous, you face life, otherwise DUI treatment is fine


This case was investigated by the Fullerton Police Department and prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Susan Price of the Orange County District Attorney's Office Homicide Unit.