Tense court hearing in Sutter County
Travis Stanton’s bail cut; he offers apology for near-deadly accident in canal
Tensions were high Tuesday as the man accused of leaving a woman in a wrecked car in a canal Saturday made his first appearance in Sutter County Superior Court.
Travis Stanton, 27, of Oroville appeared via live video feed as Judge Brian Aronson entered not guilty pleas on his behalf and appointed a public defender.
Stanton was arrested in the
early morning hours Saturday after allegedly driving drunk and crashing the vehicle into a canal on Clements Road, north of Lincoln Road. The vehicle landed on its roof and partially under water. Stanton was able to extricate himself and leave the scene, according to California Highway Patrol.
His passenger, Megan Russell, 23, of Marysville, was still in the vehicle underwater and was “essentially dead,” according to CHP, before being resuscitated.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Russell was moved from the Intensive Care Unit at Rideout to a room, according to her mother Wendy Alnajdawi. She said her daughter is walking and remembers everything from Saturday, including calling out to Stanton for help.
Russell and Stanton’s families sat on opposite sides of the courtroom. There was an additional deputy for security measures, and the families were released from the courthouse at different times through separate exits.
Stanton asked Aronson to consider releasing him on his own recognizance so he could connect with his employer and niece, who lives with him. Aronson denied that, and instead reduced Stanton’s $1 million bail to $150,000, saying that the standard bail amount for this allegation is $75,000; he doubled it because of Stanton’s prior DUI conviction in 2010.
According to Appeal-Democrat archives, Stanton was arrested in May 2010 on suspicion of a felony hit-and-run injury accident, and in August 2010 on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Stanton is being charged with driving under the influence and causing injury, with a prior conviction. That comes with a maximum sentence of three years in prison. He also faces charges of felony hit-and-run (with a maximum of three years), driving with a suspended or revoked license (with a maximum of six months) and driving without insurance (with a fine).
Stanton will next appear in court May 31, and again June 2 for a preliminary hearing.
Russell’s father, Michael Russell, asked Aronson to not allow Stanton to be released. Aronson reminded the family he was reducing bail but not releasing Stanton on his own recognizance.
“My daughter was dragged out, dead on scene, miraculously resuscitated,” Michael Russell said. “(Stanton) needs to stay where he is until the day that he goes to trial.”
Michael Russell also said it was “ridiculous” for Stanton to think his job and other responsibilities were more important than his daughter. Stanton interrupted, saying, “I never said that.”
Stanton also offered an apology to the family, saying he did not leave her to die and that he had a serious head injury and he didn’t know where he was.
Aronson cut him off and said it was in his best interest to exercise his right to remain silent.
After the arraignment, Russell’s parents said they were angered by the reduced bail and that Stanton was not charged with attempted murder or attempted manslaughter.
“Megan wants to see him prosecuted to the fullest extent,” Alnajdawi said.
Deputy District Attorney Cameron King said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon that charges of attempted murder or attempted manslaughter require the specific intent to kill.
“Under these facts, there isn’t any specific intent to kill,” King said. “I can’t really comment on what I think the facts show.”
King said if Russell had died and if prosecutors were able to prove that Stanton knew it was a danger to human life to drive under the influence, Stanton could possibly have been charged with murder.
According to a CHP Facebook post, Stanton, after the accident and wet from the canal, told a passer-by no one else was in the car. The passer-by drove down the road, saw the vehicle in the canal and called 911. Emergency responders heard a muffled gurgle and discovered Russell was still in the car.
The vehicle was too far underwater to extricate her. A Sutter County fire engine arrived and threw a winch line down to a CHP officer, who wrapped it around the car’s axle. The car was pulled onto its side, and the officer broke a window and pulled Russell out. Accounts Receivable......... Classified Fax.................... Accounts Receivable......... Display Fax....................... Toll Free.................