Lakeport man convicted in fatal collision sentenced to 5 years in state prison
A 36-year-old Lakeport man that entered a no contest plea in March, which was related to a deadly DUI crash that fatally struck a Clearlake Oaks man last September, recently appeared in court.
During the sentencing hearing the Court read and considered the report and recommendation of the Lake County Probation Officer and victim impact statements were read in court along with a packet of letters and prior court minutes marked and received into evidence.
The matter was argued and submitted, and probation was denied.
The Court made the findings with this DUI advisory (pursuant to VC 23593) that the defendant is hereby advised that being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both, impairs your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. It is extremely dangerous to human life to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Should the defendant continue to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and, as a result of that driving, someone is killed, the defendant can be charged with murder.
It is the judgment of the Court that the defendant is guilty of a felony violation of VC 23153(f) as found in Count 1 of the information and that as punishment he be imprisoned in state prison for the middle term of 2 years.
The defendant is awarded 244 days of credit for time served and 36 days of conduct credits, totaling 280 days credit.
Being the defendant, having admitted the allegations of infliction of great bodily injury upon the victim, it is ordered that 3 years be added to the defendant's base term, making the total term imposed 5 years.
In addition to the prison term, the defendant is ordered to pay restitution fines totaling $3,000, court operation assessment fee of $40, criminal conviction assessment fee of $30 and restitution is reserved for the victims.
During a hearing in March, the defendant, Steven Michael Pruitt, entered a no contest plea to the felony charge of DUI — under the influence of a drug while causing injury.
A no contest plea means the defendant agrees to accept the conviction for the crime, avoiding the factual admission of guilt.
The Court accepted the defendant's plea and the matter had been referred to the Lake County Probation Department for the preparation of a pre-sentencing report.
The charges stem from an accident in the morning hours of Sept. 22, 2021 when Pruitt was driving a blue Chevrolet Camaro west of the Rodman Slough.
Pruitt allegedly crossed the solid double yellow lines, driving directly into the oncoming lane. The defendant collided head-on with an eastbound Honda Civic, killing the driver, 64-year-old Lonnie Ray Sullivan, of Clearlake Oaks.
The defendant has been remanded to the custody of the Lake County Sheriff and delivered to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.