The Orange County Register reports that on Monday, June 14, 2021, a US Marine from Michigan was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in a wrong-way DUI crash last year along Beach Boulevard in Stanton.
Court documents show that the 22-year-old Marine, Christian Alejandro Vasquez from Michigan, pleaded guilty to the charges of gross vehicular manslaughter and a lesser charge of driving without a license.
Authorities say that on the night of August 16, 2020, Vasquez was driving the wrong way on Beach Boulevard in Stanton with his headlights off when he struck the vehicle of the 70-year-old male victim. They took the victim to an area hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. Unfortunately, however, the victim died five days later.
Vasquez pleaded guilty to the charges against him in exchange that additional DUI charges would be dropped. He also addressed Judge Cheryl Leninger and the victim’s family, expressing remorse for what he had done.
“No one should have to go through what you and your family is going through,” Vasquez told the court. “I am so profoundly sorry.”
Judge Leninger agreed that the case was especially tragic since Vasquez had no prior criminal record and that his actions “took the life of a man who was an absolute treasure to his family and friends.”
The judge noted that Vasquez had pleaded guilty early during the legal process and had clearly expressed remorse for his actions.