The City News Service of the Press-Telegram reports that a man convicted of multiple DUIs will now face between 15 years to life in prison for his role in a deadly crash in 2018 that killed a yoga instructor.
On January 27, 2018, 54-year-old Richard Wade Roberts was driving a 2006 Toyota Tacoma when he T-boned a 2007 Honda Fit at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and 8th Street. The 49-year-old woman inside the Honda was pronounced dead at the crash scene.
A short time later, Long Beach Police officers arrested Roberts on suspicion of DUI and took him into custody. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Kenneth Chiu said that they added the additional charge of Second Degree Murder to the charge of DUI.
An obituary for Roberts’ victim indicated she was on her way to meet a friend and to go to a movie when the crash happened. She was a long-time employee of a local Irish pub in Seal Beach and was a well-loved yoga instructor.
On March 28, Roberts pleaded no contest to the charges against him.
Court documents indicate Roberts had a total of six DUI convictions before the fatal crash in 2018. One of Roberts’ convictions dates as far back as 1983.
Because of his repeated DUI offenses, Judge Laura Laesecke sentenced Roberts to 15 years to life in prison.
