Covina man pleads not guilty to murder charges after fatal crash in La Verne
POMONA -- A Covina man entered a not guilty plea Wednesday to two counts of murder and other charges stemming from a crash in La Verne that killed his two passengers.
Alan McConnell, 27, of Covina pleaded not guilty in Pomona Superior Court to two counts of murder, as well as misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run, drunken driving, driving with a blood-alcohol level above .08, driving on a suspended license and an infraction count of driving without auto insurance, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Meji Vellakkatel said.
McConnell is accused of killing two women who were passengers in his 2000 Pontiac Grand Am: 22-year-old Telassie Dague and 20-year-old Renee Hardy, both of Alta Loma.
He is accused of having nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system at the time.
"The complaint alleges that it was at least .15 or above," Vellakkatel said. The legal limit is .08.
He is due back in court for a hearing on March 15, court officials said.
At the March hearing, officials will set a date for a preliminary hearing, provided attorneys on both sides are ready.
This is the third time McConnell has been accused of driving under the influence.
McConnell was already awaiting proceedings regarding another driving under the influence case that was filed against him in Los Angeles Superior Court for an alleged crime in Nov. of 2009, Vellakkatel said.
He was convicted in Orange County in October of 2009 for a misdemeanor driving under the influence offense that occurred in September of 2009, according to court documents.
The crash occurred Jan. 23 on Foothill Boulevard in La Verne.
He allegedly became involved in a minor crash with another car on Foothill Boulevard at Damien Avenue and was fleeing that collision when he crashed into a center median and a tree at Foothill Boulevard and Wheeler Avenue, La Verne police Lt. Nick Paz said.
Dague and Hardy both died of injuries suffered in the crash, officials said.
McConnell was not injured in the crash, police said.
If convicted on the murder charges, McConnell faces 30 years to life in prison.
Alan McConnell, 27, of Covina pleaded not guilty in Pomona Superior Court to two counts of murder, as well as misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run, drunken driving, driving with a blood-alcohol level above .08, driving on a suspended license and an infraction count of driving without auto insurance, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Meji Vellakkatel said.
McConnell is accused of killing two women who were passengers in his 2000 Pontiac Grand Am: 22-year-old Telassie Dague and 20-year-old Renee Hardy, both of Alta Loma.
He is accused of having nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system at the time.
"The complaint alleges that it was at least .15 or above," Vellakkatel said. The legal limit is .08.
He is due back in court for a hearing on March 15, court officials said.
At the March hearing, officials will set a date for a preliminary hearing, provided attorneys on both sides are ready.
This is the third time McConnell has been accused of driving under the influence.
McConnell was already awaiting proceedings regarding another driving under the influence case that was filed against him in Los Angeles Superior Court for an alleged crime in Nov. of 2009, Vellakkatel said.
He was convicted in Orange County in October of 2009 for a misdemeanor driving under the influence offense that occurred in September of 2009, according to court documents.
The crash occurred Jan. 23 on Foothill Boulevard in La Verne.
He allegedly became involved in a minor crash with another car on Foothill Boulevard at Damien Avenue and was fleeing that collision when he crashed into a center median and a tree at Foothill Boulevard and Wheeler Avenue, La Verne police Lt. Nick Paz said.
Dague and Hardy both died of injuries suffered in the crash, officials said.
McConnell was not injured in the crash, police said.
If convicted on the murder charges, McConnell faces 30 years to life in prison.
7 Comments
Leave a comment
CONTRIBUTORS
|
| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
|
|
Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
SELFISH BASTARD...
that bastard killed my girlfriend!! RIP RENEE
How can this S.O.B plea NOT GUILTY.......? He is still awaiting passed charges; the third time McConnell has been accused of driving under the influence.
McConnell was already awaiting proceedings regarding another driving under the influence case that was filed against him in Los Angeles Superior Court for an alleged crime in Nov. of 2009,
ALL THIS BASTARD HAD TO DO; WAS STOP THE CAR AFTER THE FIRST FENDER BENDER; AND THESE 2 BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WOULD STILL BE ALIVE....BUT YOU PUT THEIRS LIVES IN DANGER BY FLEEING THE SCENE.....
He killed two innocent women. Both who did not deserve to die. Not only did he kill the Love of My Life (Telassie Dague); But he killed my best friend. THIS MAN DESERVES TO SERVE 2 LIFE SENTENCES......LET HIM ROTT IN HELL FOR ALL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING HE HAS CAUSED BOTH FAMILIES...
How can this S.O.B plea NOT GUILTY.......? He is still awaiting passed charges; the third time McConnell has been accused of driving under the influence.
McConnell was already awaiting proceedings regarding another driving under the influence case that was filed against him in Los Angeles Superior Court for an alleged crime in Nov. of 2009,
ALL THIS BASTARD HAD TO DO; WAS STOP THE CAR AFTER THE FIRST FENDER BENDER; AND THESE 2 BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WOULD STILL BE ALIVE....BUT YOU PUT THEIRS LIVES IN DANGER BY FLEEING THE SCENE.....
He killed two innocent women. Both who did not deserve to die. Not only did he kill the Love of My Life (Telassie Dague); But he killed my best friend. THIS MAN DESERVES TO SERVE 2 LIFE SENTENCES......LET HIM ROTT IN HELL FOR ALL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING HE HAS CAUSED BOTH FAMILIES...
R.I.P My Love: Telassie "Lasie" Dague ALWAYS & FOREVER. I Love You
renee and lassie were at my house what must have been one or two days before this happened.. I just found out right now.. I remember calling their phones and sending texts like.. did you get a new number.. and it eventually tured to "what your too good for your good friend?"
i had no idea this happened no body told me!!! Im so sorry for the families and all the friends and especially them.
I hope the guy driving them rots in hell for eternity which I know he will. There is no such thing as acceptance into heaven for murderers.
renee and lassie were at my house what must have been one or two days before this happened.. I just found out right now.. I remember calling their phones and sending texts like.. did you get a new number.. and it eventually tured to "what your too good for your good friend?"
i had no idea this happened no body told me!!! Im so sorry for the families and all the friends and especially them.
I hope the guy driving them rots in hell for eternity which I know he will. There is no such thing as acceptance into heaven for murderers.
Ryan... Dont you have ALSO have 3 DUIs?!?! what if that had been you???? Would you want ppl to want YOU to rot in prison?? What if he had let Telassie or Renee drive the car that night and the same thing happened and it was Alan and Renee or Telassie that die...would you want them to rot in hell & never see day light?!? Probably not. Don't get me wrong..this is a horrible situation that I would never wish upon anyone no matter what but if you say things that well.. you yourself are guilty of as well.. you should probably watch what you say .. I mean.. calling the kettle black.. I think so.