The now 19-year-old Redwood City man found responsible for two counts of vehicular manslaughter after a fatal speed racing contest causing the deaths of two was sentenced to 90 days of electronic home monitoring, Deputy District Attorney Shin-Mee Chang said.
Judge Susan Etezadi agreed with probation department recommendation that the man, Cesar Morales — who she decided earlier in the case would be tried as a juvenile — would be released into the custody of his parents. He will be required to stay at home with his parents except for essential services like school or medical appointments, Chang said.
Morales was 17 when he raced then 23-year-old Kyle Harrison on El Camino Real in Redwood City in November 2022, T-boning a car and killing Greg Ammen, 44, and Grace Spiridon, 42. Morales was going between 92 to 117 mph at the time of the crash, per a California Highway Patrol analysis, and potentially even faster per expert review.
Their 9-year-old twin daughters, who were 7 at the time of the crash, were also in the car but miraculously survived.
The DA’s Office had previously unsuccessfully argued that Morales should be found responsible for two counts of second-degree murder because of implied malice, or his understanding of how dangerous the act of racing could be and its intrinsically high probability of danger.
Morales’ lawyer, Kevin Nowack, argued that the DA’s Office failed to meet the burden of proof required to convict on murder charges and that the case was textbook vehicular manslaughter. Nowack did not immediately respond to request for comment on the sentencing decision.
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After the verdict, the DA’s Office had asked for the maximum sentence possible for Morales, which would have been a year in custody. Because he was tried as a juvenile, he could only have been held until his 21st birthday. He also had credit for time served.
“We respect what the court did, but it’s not what we were asking for,” Chang said. “It’s just so tragic, because these victims can never be whole.”
The family of the victims were present during the sentencing and played a video montage as part of their impact statement, Chang said.
Morales was also previously found responsible for three felony counts of engaging in a speed contest and one count of misdemeanor speed contest, Wagstaffe said. He will be on probation for up to one year following the sentencing.
Harrison, who was racing Morales, pleaded no contest to two counts of vehicular manslaughter and three felony counts and one misdemeanor count of engaging in a speed contest resulting in death. He will be sentenced as an adult Feb. 25 and faces up to nine years and four months in state prison.
lOur city council should be outraged. Guess they have more important things to think about - like cracking down on smokers or not standing for the pledge of allegiance.
It’s not April 1, is it? This has to be a joke. Apparently not. Well folks, if you didn’t imagine there was a “Get out of jail free” card, here’s your evidence. If you’re under 18, you’re allowed to kill two people. I’m betting the sentencing for committing three felony counts of engaging in a speed contest and one count of misdemeanor speed contest may be a week of home monitoring, or less. I guess folks can do the crime and not do the time. So will potential scofflaws take note and prepare by hiring the same lawyer to increase their chances of a slap on the wrist and buying family size PB&J and a breadmaker. Folks, you get the government you deserve. And thanks to Mr. Morales, two folks are no longer with us. BTW, shouldn’t Morales have been charged for driving a vehicle without an adult? Or is that not a thing anymore?
Outstanding punishment, 2 months of home confinement for killing two people, one month for each person. Those homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are going to be hard to swallow. Perhaps his neighbors can drop off a pot roast to help him cope. Tough on crime Redwood City should be applauded for their snowflake approach and reckless disregard for life. Next time, charge a 17 year old as an adult and punish him by sentencing him to San Quentin so he can understand the gravity of his actions.
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(5) comments
lOur city council should be outraged. Guess they have more important things to think about - like cracking down on smokers or not standing for the pledge of allegiance.
Is this some kind of sick joke?
It’s not April 1, is it? This has to be a joke. Apparently not. Well folks, if you didn’t imagine there was a “Get out of jail free” card, here’s your evidence. If you’re under 18, you’re allowed to kill two people. I’m betting the sentencing for committing three felony counts of engaging in a speed contest and one count of misdemeanor speed contest may be a week of home monitoring, or less. I guess folks can do the crime and not do the time. So will potential scofflaws take note and prepare by hiring the same lawyer to increase their chances of a slap on the wrist and buying family size PB&J and a breadmaker. Folks, you get the government you deserve. And thanks to Mr. Morales, two folks are no longer with us. BTW, shouldn’t Morales have been charged for driving a vehicle without an adult? Or is that not a thing anymore?
Wokeness is a nasty virus. It is so prevalent here still. What’s the remedy? More people will now think nothing of killing 2 people.
Outstanding punishment, 2 months of home confinement for killing two people, one month for each person. Those homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are going to be hard to swallow. Perhaps his neighbors can drop off a pot roast to help him cope. Tough on crime Redwood City should be applauded for their snowflake approach and reckless disregard for life. Next time, charge a 17 year old as an adult and punish him by sentencing him to San Quentin so he can understand the gravity of his actions.
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Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.