Hollister's Rosario Lopez, 23, was sentenced to five years in prison today after she had pleaded guilty to DUI with an enhancement of causing great bodily injury or death for the alcohol-related crash that resulted in the death of 26-year-old Adam Haney of Hollister.
"She could have been released to a program on probation with no jail time," said widow Kara Haney, who underwent "voluntary foreclosure" after her husband's death when she could no longer afford her mortgage payments. "Considering California law allows someone to be released with no jail time, I am happy with the five years."
The tragedy took place Feb. 16 when Lopez was northbound on Highway 101 at a high speed and struck Haney's pickup truck from behind, causing it to roll over. Monterey County Deputy District Attorney Douglas Matheson told the Free Lance that Lopez had a 0.14 percent blood-alcohol level afterward, but he was quick to point out that she was not tested for some time and contended she likely had a higher level at the time of the crash.
Monterey County Judge Adrianne Grover, in a twist of irony, told those in the courtroom that Adam Haney had been actively involved in helping to lessen alcohol and drug abuse, even facilitating 12-step programs in Salinas Valley State Prison, Matheson said.
The sentencing followed emotional testimony from Haney's mother Dora Horn, his widow and his friend Hugo Calderon, who was in the vehicle at the time of the crash and who suffered serious injuries requiring hospitalization.
Michael Pekin, defense attorney for Lopez, was "pushing hard for a live-in alcohol treatment program," according to Haney. "But after hearing me, Adam's mom and Hugo, the judge decided on prison."
Pekin told the judge that his client regrets her actions and plans to undergo alcohol treatment, and Lopez apologized to the victims, said Haney, who noted how Lopez said that she did not mean to do it, thinks about it all the time, has nightmares and wants to move on. The judge told Lopez that "she was lucky she lived to have the option to move on," said Haney, who added that the judge told Lopez that she could seek a treatment center after doing her time.
Matheson told the Free Lance he was "pleased with Judge Grover's analysis and the sentence."
"It was very well thought out, and her observations were insightful," he said. "I think justice was served and I thought Kara, Dora Horn and Hugo did an excellent job of standing up and describing to the court how this has impacted them."
Added Matheson, "There was testimony that their 4-year-old son Adam III wanted to be thrown up in the air to be closer to his dad."
Regarding Matheson's involvement in alcohol abatement programs, Matheson replied: "That was ironic, but what it really demonstrates is how valuable each person's life is. A death like this has a ripple effect on the community."
Jeff Gatlin Jeff Gatlin is a staff writer at The Hollister Free Lance. You can call him at (831) 637-5566 or send him an email.
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