A man who described his lifestyle as an “ugly life” to the police has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison for a DUI crash, according to prosecutors on Monday.
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez said in a statement, “This defendant has lived his entire adult life committing serious criminal offenses, and simply put, the community is safer with him incarcerated.”
The offender, Jose Angel Mendez Torres, 36, from Watsonville, was given the maximum prison sentence by Judge Mark Urioste on Friday. Torres will serve more than 24 years in state prison.
During Torres’ trial in June, a jury convicted him of robbery, commercial burglary, Driving Under the Influence of a drug causing major bodily injury, fleeing a police officer, and possession of tear gas. Torres had previously been convicted of a prior “strike” offense.
Prosecutors detailed how Torres embarked on a two-day crime spree in Sonoma County in August of 2022. He violently removed a cash register from a 76 gas station cashier. Video surveillance footage was used by law enforcement to identify Torres as a suspect.
The following day, Torres was stopped by officers in Rohnert Park for vehicle code violations. After giving a false name and subsequently fleeing when questioned further, Torres caused a head-on collision with a motorist in the opposite lane.
After fleeing the crash scene, Torres was found hiding in a nearby creek. Officers found him to be high on methamphetamine and in possession of thousands of dollars in stolen cash.
Despite surviving the head-on collision, the victim suffered significant injuries that profoundly affected his life, causing him great pain and preventing him from working or carrying out his normal activities.
This case serves as a harsh reminder of the severe consequences of DUI and the extensive harm it can cause to innocent parties. It also highlights the efficacy of the judicial system in ensuring such offenders face suitable punishment.