Thanks again Vickie, you make those tricky, obscure and even literal applications of constitutional law bow in the presence of your scathing repartee' regardless. Not to mention your singular tenacity with light poles - inspiring!. Of course it is the light from your light pole that guides us through the darkness of "the man's" petty rules into the promised land! The Promise: every drunk driver is revered like a conquering hero and every developer/Israeli Ex-patriate is graciously liberal with the cash he slips into the hand of the truly loyal and NO illegal immigrant or drunk has to ever again live in fear of the surprise DUI check point.
Viva La Raza!
Driver charged with DUI, murder in death
of Irvine teen Ashton Sweet
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Austin Farley, 26, was charged with one felony count each of murder and driving under the influence in the crash that killed 14-year-old Ashton Sweet. (KABC Photo)
By Elex Michaelson and Jovana LaraSANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- An Orange County man has been charged with DUI and murder for a collision that resulted in the death of Irvine teenager Ashton Sweet.
Police say 26-year-old Austin Farley's blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit when he crashed into the car Ashton Sweet was riding in Sunday morning.
Farley appeared in court to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon. He pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and DUI charges. A pre-trial hearing was scheduled for June 24 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. If convicted, Farley faces a maximum sentence of 20 years to life in state prison.
According to Orange County court records, Farley has a long criminal record.
- In 2009 Farley pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, battery on a peace officer, driving on a suspended license, and vandalism over $400.
- In 2008 he pleaded guilty to battery and damaging a monitoring device.
- In 2005 he pleaded guilty for refusing to take a chemical test for drugs or alcohol.
Farley now sits in jail and is held on $1 million bail. Irvine police say his vehicle struck a Mercedes-Benz carrying five passengers, including Sweet.
Sweet sustained an irreversible brain injury from the crash. She was being kept on life support so her organs could be donated. She was declared deceased Tuesday afternoon.
On Tuesday, nearly all of Sweet's classmates at Northwood High School wore white to celebrate her life. The memorial at the crash site is also growing.
"I think it's really hard for everyone," said junior Ashley Yonamine. "I hope that her family is doing all right and her friends remember all the joy that she brought and not all the sadness that comes with her death."
"Really nice kid," said Northwood High Principal Leslie Roach. "Very sweet, well liked. I think she'll certainly be missed."
Another passenger in the crash, 15-year-old Krista Merassa, remains in critical condition. Irvine police say her condition is improving and her injuries are not life-threatening.
The prospects for healthcare reform may be chillier than DC weather, but Democrats in the House and Senate are turning their attention to another warmer but still significant national issue: the increasing number of runaway and throwaway youth who are being forced into prostitution. In response to the growing concerns that desperate, runaway teens will be forced into prostitution in a sluggish economy, Congress is pushing several bills to improve how runaway kids are tracked by the police, fund crucial social services, and prevent teens from being caught in sex trafficking. Here's the gist of what the new legislation is trying to accomplish:
