People v. Sanchez CA2/7
Opinion
Opinion
Segal, J.
INTRODUCTION
Victor Hugo Sanchez appeals from the judgment entered after he pleaded no contest to one count of driving with a suspended license and a jury convicted him of one count of driving under the influence. He challenges the latter conviction, arguing the People impermissibly relied exclusively on his extrajudicial statements to establish the corpus delicti of the offense. Because there was sufficient proof of the corpus delicti apart from Sanchez’s extrajudicial statements, we affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A. The Charges In February 2014, following a fatal traffic accident, the People charged Sanchez and a co-defendant, Vincent Lopez, with one count each of murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a)), driving under the influence causing injury (Veh. Code, § 23153, subd. (a)), and driving with a suspended license (Veh. Code, § 14601.1, subd. (a)).1 The People also alleged that Sanchez had a previous conviction for driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more (Veh. Code, § 23152, subd. (b)). Sanchez pleaded no contest to driving with a suspended license, and trial began on the remaining counts.