People v. Jones CA2/6

FACTS

Danny Mosley, a Montebello automobile detailer, hired Jones. It was a bad employment decision. On the same morning he hired Jones, Jones left the business with a car without permission.

All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless

otherwise stated. Mosley found Jones driving the car in Long Beach. He told Jones nothing would happen if he returned the car. Jones replied that he was going home and drove away. Mosley called the police who took up the chase. In an attempt to elude the police, Jones drove at speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour. He hit a police van, but drove on. Later he failed to negotiate a left turn, jumped the curb, and hit a building. He proceeded down a crowded sidewalk at speeds nearing 50 miles per hour. He nearly struck a number of pedestrians before killing Ricard Nolbert. The chase ended when Jones hit a parked van, setting off the car’s airbags. Jones abandoned the car and fled on foot before he was arrested. Conviction and Sentence A jury found Jones guilty of evading the police causing death (Veh. Code, § 2800.3), a serious felony; driving or taking a vehicle without consent (id., § 10851, subd. (a)); and hit and run causing death…