Hermosa Beach hit-and-run sentencing postponed for the 7th time
Deputy District Attorney Paul Guthrie thinks the 8th time will be the charm for Ruben Vargas, who is expected to be sentenced to 16 months in prison for leaving the scene of an accident. His truck went into a Hermosa Beach house, injuring a sleeping 5-year-old inside.
Proceedings actually got underway today, as both sides began haggling about restitution. In the end, Judge Eric Taylor agreed that the family should get the full $66,192.16 they're asking for - but there's a hold-up because it's not clear how much Vargas' insurance company has paid them, and for what.
Vargas' attorney tried arguing that his client shouldn't pay the full restitution, maintaining Vargas wasn't driving when the truck crashed, only that he drove away. None of that is very clear, but Taylor agreed with Guthrie that it's a moot point since Vargas, has, in fact, pleaded no contest.
About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
Twitter updates from Larry Altman
ADVERTISEMENT
|
|
About the Blogger
Denise Nix knew as young as grade school, when she spent every summer working on the camp newspaper, that she wanted to be a journalist. Denise has spent most of the last 12 years of her career in the courtroom. She joined the Daily Breeze in 2001, where she tracks and reports on hundreds of cases at every level of the justice system. And she's never, ever, seen a judge use a gavel.
E-mail Denise at denise.nix@dailybreeze.com.
Twitter updates from Denise Nix
ADVERTISEMENT
|
|
Leave a comment