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Arraignment Postponed for Alleged Wrong-Way Driver
More than 30 relatives and friends of Macrina Ocampo, 58, and Marcos Arredondo, 18, filled a Santa Barbara courtroom Friday for the scheduled arraignment of Richard Rodriguez, the alleged driver in the Nov. 8, 2009, wrong-way Highway 101 collision that killed the two Goleta residents.
Rodriguez, 20, of Tustin, faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and causing great bodily injury to three others, said prosecutor Lee Carter of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.
His arraignment was continued to February because Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge George Eskin, who presided Friday for the last time in Department 12, will be moving to civil litigation. Judge Rick Brown, who will be taking over, is filling in for the late Judge William McLafferty. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed court commissioner Colleen Sterne to fill McLafferty’s judgeship.
Rodriguez appeared in court Friday wearing orange — a sign of protective custody. He walked to the front of the courtroom with his eyes on the floor, carrying a manila envelope. The only time he spoke was to say “yes” when he was asked if he was willing to give up his right to a speedy arraignment.
Eskin didn’t know which case was on the calendar Friday afternoon, and he apologized for the hour delay and his “cavalier attitude” when he came into the courtroom. He didn’t know why so many people were at an arraignment and asked jokingly if it was a class.
“I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
Carter spoke to some of the family members afterward, explaining that it was a serious and complicated case, which is why it was continued.
The delay was a joint request from the attorneys since Eskin would be leaving, Carter said, adding that he doesn’t want the case to drag out and will push it forward once it goes before Brown.
Rodriguez is represented by Dyke Huish, who also spoke with family members afterward.
Rodriguez was allegedly driving under the influence and the wrong way on Highway 101 when he hit the four-passenger car carrying Ocampo, Arredondo and Arredondo’s two younger sisters. Arredondo’s parents were in the car ahead and were able to swerve to avoid Rodriguez’s car.
Ocampo died at the scene, and Arredondo died after being transported to the hospital. His sisters, Karina and Yessika, who were in the backseat, were seriously injured in the crash. Karina was in a wheelchair in the courtroom Friday, and Yessika is still undergoing rehabilitation.
The felony charges Rodriguez is facing could carry a maximum sentence of 19 years in prison. The initial charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, and each count of great bodily injury carries a maximum of three years.
Ocampo was best friends with Marina Arredondo, Marcos’ mother, said Nora Arzate, one of Ocampo’s eight children and only daughter. She said the family is not doing well.
Nora and Rolando Arzate were just two of the many people in court Friday, and said they intend to continue attending Rodriguez’s court dates.
Donations to the Macrina Ocampo/Marcos Arredondo Memorial Fund can be made through Santa Barbara Bank & Trust.
— Noozhawk staff writer Giana Magnoli can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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» on 01.30.10 @ 11:45 AM
People who only look at the headline and photo but don’t click on the story might think that one of the men in the photograph is the alleged drunken driver. Any way to fix that?
» on 01.30.10 @ 11:31 PM
Just like his callous wife, Hannah-Beth Jackson.
» on 01.31.10 @ 12:46 PM
I agree with above comments on caption. i read the caption several times and thought the driver had shaved his head and grew a moustache.
Its very confusing.
how about changing it to
“Roland Arzate, son of wrong-way crash victim Macrina Ocampo,speaks with Dyke Huish,the attorney representing Richard Rodriguez, outside the courthouse, etc….
[Noozhawk’s note: Thanks. Fixed.]
» on 02.01.10 @ 02:21 PM
I can’t believe the maximum is 19 years for killing to people and causing the disability of two others. What an injustice. He deserves a life sentence. And Judge Eskin seems incredibly insensitive.
» on 02.01.10 @ 05:15 PM
I’ve served as a juror in Judge Eskin’s court and found him to be a very kind hearted, sincere and professional public official. Everyone is guilty of a slip of the tongue from time to time, we are all human. He was humble enough to apologize and I hope all involved will be humble enough to accept his apology and move forward with what is really important here… getting a criminal off the streets!
» on 02.01.10 @ 06:35 PM
Judges should be held to a much higher standard than everyone else in the courtroom. That joke is an inexcusable mistake, especially when there are grieving family members present. I’m sure “no one is perfect” would not be happy to hear that joke if it were a trial for their mother’s or son’s killer. Not funny, not acceptable!
» on 02.02.10 @ 11:44 PM
Richard does not deserve life in prison. Think if it was your family member. No disrespect to the other family. My heart deeply goes out to the family of the deceased. But if the shoe was on the other foot, what would u say?? I am not naive, if they were my family I would want justice, but look at both sides. Richard and his family are hurting just as much!!!!!!!He is not a criminal, he is not in and out of jail like most of these idiots. He had a life, a good life and made a mistake, and thats what it was….. a horrible mistake. And trust me he will live with this the rest of his life.
» on 02.07.10 @ 01:51 PM
sad heart, you are being extremely disrespectful, naive, and inconsiderate.
I knew Richard as well, and even I see what a joke this 19-year maximum sentence is.
You need to learn to practice some EMPATHY. If it was Rick and his aunt who were killed by a drunk driver, would you want to come on this site and read these stories and then have people posting about how ‘great’ the other guy was and how he deserves compassion? NO.
You are being extremely selfish right now. Think about the pain his family is going through and will continue going through for the rest of their lives, and all you are doing is ADDING to it right now. If you really think Rick is such a great guy, just keep it to yourself instead of forcing the victims to read it.
Rick deserves ATLEAST 40 years for this (20 per death), if not more considering the severe injuries to the sisters. And yes, he is a criminal, what he did is defined in our laws as a CRIMINAL act which results in going to federal PRISON. Just because we know him doesn’t change this fact.
Its time to grow up. I understand that it hurts for you to have lost a friend (although technically you haven’t lost him, you can still visit him, write him, etc, while the friends and family of the 18 year old CANT), but this is not the way to go about coming to terms with this. Grow up and learn to practice some empathy.
» on 02.07.10 @ 02:48 PM
*You are being extremely selfish right now. Think about the pain his family is going through* ( I mean to say the family of the 2 victims)
and will continue going through for the rest of their lives, and all you are doing is ADDING to it right now. If you really think Rick is such a great guy, just keep it to yourself instead of forcing the victims to read it.
» on 02.12.10 @ 02:24 AM
It is very hard on me to know that someone I know had killed 2 ppl, not to mention put 2 more ppl in critical condition. What makes me angry is that he had no need to drive anywhere, he was going to leave his friends behind in SB if he planned to drive hom, what the heck was he thinking? The best reason I could think for him to drive was to get food, but if you’re drunk and you got no sober driver, just tough it out and crash till the morning.
To everyone who are friend’s with Rick, would you still have sympathy for him if he did this to a car full of our friends or family? I doubt any of you would have the same sympathy for him if that were the case. If Rick killed any of my friends, I wouldn’t forgive him.
The least he can do now is pay for the medical treatments for the other two victims who are still alive for the rest of his life. 19 years sounds very leniant already, I was expecting 40 years.
If my future kids ever decide to drink and drive, I will take their car away for a long time. Why did Rick’s parents let him still drive after getting a DUI? Could have been prevented if Rick’s parents taught him the seriousness of a DUI, because I figured he has the mentality that cops suck.
» on 02.19.10 @ 09:48 PM
directed to “what a joke”.
You do not know me, you have no right to say I am disrespectful, naive and inconsiderate. Do not think for one minute that i do not hurt for what has happened to these two people who have lost their lives and the two girls who were injured and to their family and friends who are mourning them. I deeply feel saddened that this horrific trajedy even happened. I just do not want people (like you) to think Richard is a monster, a killer, a hardened criminal. He made a sickening decision to get behind the wheel. He has caused pain for numerous people that he knows and that he doesnt know. Nothing we can say or do will turn this around. Unfortunately, it is what it is. And it wounds me to say that, but it is the truth. Richard will have to pay for this the rest of his life,no matter what he gets sentenced. And dont think for one minute that his family and true friends are not hurting because they live this pain everyday too for both families. No matter how much time he has to serve will take this away. For your information, I am grown up. And I would bet you and several other people you know have done something as stupid as driving drunk or getting in the car with someone that is driving drunk. Who are you to say 40 years is what he should get or that its not enough?? He has to pay for this the rest of his life, in prison or out.
» on 02.25.10 @ 12:19 PM
HONESTLY, THIS KID SHOULD PAY WITH THE REST OF HIS LIFE. HE TOOK 2 LIFES AND BADLY INJURED 2 OTHERS…NOT TO MENTION ALL THE HARM HE DID TO THE FAMILY OF BOTH VICTIMS THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY. ***HE DESERVES TO PAY WITH HIS LIFE*** HE MAY OF NOT BEEN A BAD KID BUT TO MAKE THE MISTAKE OF A GETTING BEHIND A WHEEL AND DRIVING THE WRONG WAY, HE PROVES HIS MENTALITY. HES A IMMATURE TEEN THINKING HE CAN STILL CONQUER THE WORLD. FOR GOD’S SAKE. *HES STUPID ENOUGH TO DRIVE THE WRONG WAY* HE USED HIS CAR AS A DEADLY WEAPON TO ***KILL*** ..SAME THING AS A GUN OR KNIFE BUT JUST 100 TIMES THE SIZE. HIS FAMIY IS STILL LUCKY TO SEE HIM BEHIND BARS.. HONESTLY I THINK IT WOULD OF BEEN BETTER FOR HIM TO HAVE PASSED. HIS ACTIONS WERE THAT STUPID!
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