San Diego DUI Lawyer Blog

San Diego DUI arrest of a local Imperial Beach man was taken into custody for allegedly driving while intoxicated three times within a five day period said Deputies on Sunday.

Around 6:30 in the morning on Sunday, it was reported to Sheriff Deputies that there was a drunk driver on the road on Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach. According to Sergeant Ted Greenwald, when Deputies discovered the driver, forty-four year old David Lakarnafeaux, the San Diego drunken driver was walking inside a bar located on Palm Avenue and Seacoast Drive. Greenwald also explained that when Lakarnafeaux was arrested by Deputies, they found out that he had already been charged with drinking and driving two times last week.

First Lakarnafeaux was arrested Tuesday by San Diego police and then again on Thursday by California Highway Patrol. The California Vehicle Code §23540 states that if a person is arrested for a second DUI within ten years of the first DUI, the person shall have to serve ninety days in jail and a fine up to $1000. As for the third DUI, according to the California Vehicle Code §23546, a person who has had a two time DUI offense and gets a third offense within a ten year period of the first two DUI’s, then the person shall serve 120 days to one year in San Diego jail and up to a $1000 fine. In addition, the person’s license will be revoked and could be issued as a habitual traffic offender for a three year period.

The three-time San Diego drunk driver was arrested and booked in San Diego Central Jail. He was also held on $100,000 bail. According to jail records, Lakarnafeaux is expected to show up to his arraignment at the El Cajon courthouse on Wednesday at nine o’ clock in the morning.

Man Arrested for Third DUI in Five Days, U-T San Diego, January 22, 2012

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San Diego gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI hit and run causing death charges were made against an Escondido man who allegedly killed a female passenger riding in his vehicle.

Twenty-seven year old Joshua Goldbaum is looking at 20+ years behind bars if he is convicted for killing Brianne Burlington, the twenty-one year old who was a passenger in his vehicle. The San Diego DUI crash occurred last October when Goldbaum, Burlington, and another male passenger by the name of Nicholas McGill were all in the defendant’s Hyundai Sonata. McGill was able to leave the incident with minor injuries. Judge Richard Mills of the Vista Courthouse declared there was sufficient evidence for the San Diego drunken driver to stand trial in which the arraignment will be held on the first of February.

Last October 8th, Goldbaum was driving his Sonata when he collided with a Ford Aerostar around 2:22 in the morning at Bear Valley Parkway. According to a search warrant from the California Highway Patrol, a woman who witnessed the scene stopped to help him, however, Goldbaum convinced the woman to drive him to the hospital and then back to his home. The police arrested Goldbaum at his residence due to the woman finding his wallet in her vehicle and realizing that he was the driver in the fatal hit and run and then calling police.

McGill told officers that Goldbaum was in fact drinking and taking drugs hours before the crash occurred. Although lawyers said that the defendant had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 at the time of the crash, a fellow officer felt that in his opinion Goldbaum had too much to drink and was under the influence of marijuana and another drug.

Driving Under the Influence in San Diego County
Driving under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug in California is against the law.
If you have a 0.08 percent or more by weight, of alcohol in your blood, you will be charged with a DUI if apprehended. You could be facing fines and jail time if convicted.

Man Accused In Fatal Hit-And-Run To Stand Trial, San Diego 10 News, January 19, 2012

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A San Diego woman was sentenced Friday for felony charges of a DUI hit and run that resulted in injury.
Twenty-two year old Jessica Bloom pleaded guilty for driving under the influence of alcohol and crashing into a decorated marine that left him in almost a fatal critical condition. Bloom will spend four years and four months behind bars due to this incident. The victim, Sgt. David W. Smith is suffering from major injuries such as a lacerated kidney, lacerated liver, partial decapitation and bleeding of the brain. His life threatening injuries left him in “comatose for two days, paralyzed completely for two of three days and on life support for ten days.”

The crash took place around 12:30 p.m. last July when Bloom rammed into Smith’s motorcycle from behind while at a stoplight when she was behind the wheel of her Chevrolet Trailblazer. According to the prosecuting attorney, the San Diego drunk driver was reported to have a blood alcohol level of .37 percent, which is more than four times the legal limit. Matthew Williams, the prosecuting attorney said that Smith was launched onto the hood of the Trailblazer then onto the street. This prompted Bloom to get out of her SUV where she was in a state of panic asking if the victim was dead. Then she got back into her vehicle and drove off to her apartment building. Bloom’s hit and run prompted witnesses to follow her and call the police.

Judge Theodore Weathers said it was "beyond belief" and "beyond comprehension" that the defendant drank so much that day. It was also stated Bloom has been arrested before back in November of 2008 where she was arrested for a DUI.

Woman Guilty Of DUI That Injured Marine Sentenced, San Diego 10 News, January 6, 2012

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On Friday, Miguel Cabrera of the Minor League Detroit Tigers pleaded no contest for driving under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor he was charged with in Florida in February of last year.

Due to the athlete’s plea, he was offered a deal where jail time could be avoided, even though he initially refused to participate in a field sobriety test at the time of his arrest. Instead of serving time behind bars, Cabrera will be on probation for one year, perform fifty hours of community service and pay a fine. In addition, the first baseman will have to be present at a Driving under the Influence School and participate in a MADD victim Impact Panel. Cabrera’s license will also be suspended for six months.

Due to Cabrera’s profession as an athlete, the judge granted that he would be able to travel while he is on probation. The charges were also dropped by prosecuting attorneys against the twenty-eight year old drunken driver for non-violently resisting an officer and having and having an opened alcoholic beverage in his vehicle.

According to Gayle Braun, the chief assistant attorney of St Lucie County, she said that "since the inception of the case, it has been our position that Mr. Cabrera should be treated the same as any citizen." She also added that "He received no worse or better treatment because of his celebrity status." The arrest declaration explained that this scene began when police saw smoke coming from a vehicle pulled off to the side of the road. One of the officer’s "detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage" from the drunken drivers breath. The report stated that Cabrera’s eyes were “bloodshot and watery and his speech was ... heavily slurred."

If you are arrested for DUI or driving under the influence in San Diego County, then trust you case to an experienced San Diego DUI lawyer at the San Diego Law Center who will explain all of your options during a free consultation.

Miguel Cabrera Pleads No Contest To Drunk Driving, San Diego 10 News, January 6, 2012

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