Judge sentences Russworm to 11 years in prison in SUV killing case

Keith Ray Russworm was sentenced by a judge this morning to the maximum prison term allowed, 11 years, for his voluntary manslaughter conviction.

Russworm, 22, was charged with murder and multiple counts of attempted murder for driving his SUV into a crowd outisde an Ontario house party two years ago.

Alejandro Ochandorena, 58, was killed in the incident, and other people suffered major injuries. Russworm maintained the incident was accidental, and said he was provoked by drunken partygoers.

A West Valley Superior Court jury convicted Russworm last month of voluntary manslaughter, opting for that charge rather than first- or second-degree murder. The jury also acquitted Russworm on six counts of attempted murder.

In statements to the court this morning, family members of Ochandorena called for Judge Arthur Harrison to hand down the maximum sentence allowed by the law.

When Harrison told Russworm he had chosen an 11-year sentence, Russworm's mother cried and audibly wailed in the courtroom audience.

The San Bernardino County Probation Department had recommended an 11-year sentence.

Russworm, of Corona, could be eligible for parole in about seven years.

Russworm's defense attorney, Dan Mangan, said he would file the necessary paperwork to appeal Russworm's conviction and sentence.