Conviction in Adenhart Case

Andrew Gallo was convicted on three counts of murder as well as single counts each of hit-and-run driving, drunken driving (DUI) and DUI causing great bodily harm this week in the case stemming from a tragic car accident that killed rookie Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two friends and left a third victim severely injured last year.  Adenhart and three friends were driving through Fullerton after pitching six scoreless innings in his season debut for the Angels when his car was struck by Gallo, who had run a red light while driving under the influence of alcohol.  Gallo, who initially ran away from the scene of the accident but was quickly caught by local law enforcement officials, was found to have had a blood alcohol content that was nearly three times the legal limit of .08%.  Gallo's attorney claims Gallo had expected his stepbrother, who was also riding in his vehicle at the time of the crash, to be his designated driver as the two had visited several bars leading up to the crash.  Gallo, an Orange County construction worker, had pleaded not guilty.  Prosecutors in the case had sought to charge Gallo with murder instead of the lesser charge of vehicular manslaughter because Gallo had previously been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and had even signed documents stating that he acknowledged that he could be charged with murder if he killed someone while driving under the influence of alcohol. 

When you choose to drink and drive in Los Angeles, there is a very real possibility that you or someone else can be seriously injured or even die as a result.  Because of that, prosecutors can and frequently do seek to charge many drivers with either DUI manslaughter or, increasingly, murder.  If you have been charged with DUI manslaughter, you need an experienced and aggressive Los Angeles DUI defense attorney right away.  At Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP, our Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys have decades of combined experience in defending against a variety of DUI charges, including DUI manslaughter.

Vehicular manslaughter in Los Angeles is defined as causing the death of another person through negligent or reckless behavior while driving.  If the vehicular manslaughter occurs as a result of DUI, as in the Adenhart case mentioned above, then the charge becomes DUI manslaughter and, if convicted, can land you in a California state prison for up to 10 years.  The Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP know that every DUI manslaughter case is unique and that even the smallest details can help get your charges reduced or even dismissed entirely.  Call us at (877) 781-1570 today to begin working on your case.