Local man sentenced in single-vehicle DUI crash

LAKEPORT >> Jerry Lee Thorpe, 49, was present for a recent sentencing hearing this month.

In November of last year the defendant was convicted of buying/selling/receiving stolen property and driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Court read and considered the report and recommendation of the Lake County probation officer.

Probation was denied and the Court made the following findings:

The defendant has complied with PC29810, which is the relinquishment of firearms after being a convicted felon.

Thorpe was under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of the commission of the offense with a demonstrated history of substance abuse.

Thorpe was advised that being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both, impairs your ability to safely operate a car, clarifying that it is extremely dangerous to human life to drive while under the influence.

Should the defendant continue to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both, and as a result of that driving, someone is killed, the defendant can be charged with murder pursuant to VC 23593, which is a Court advisement due to the defendant’s driving under the influence conviction.

It is the judgement of the Court that the defendant is guilty of a felony violation of PC496d(a) (Buy/Sell/Receive Stolen Property) and that as punishment he be imprisoned in state prison for the upper term of three years.

For the misdemeanor violation, VC23152(b) (Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol), the defendant is to serve one year, which may be served in any penal institution.

Thorpe is also ordered to pay restitution fines totaling $900.

Other fines include a penalty assessment fee of $1,209.00, $390 fine, alcohol assessment fee of $20 an EMT assessment Fee of $4 and more fees.

The defendant is ordered to turn himself in at the Hill Road Jail in a clean and sober condition on Feb. 3, 2021 at 9 a.m. in order to be delivered to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The case is set for Feb. 9, 2021 at 9 a.m. in Department 2 to verify the defendant is in custody.

The charges stem from an incident in April of 2019 when, according to the CHP, Thorpe sustained major injuries after crashing his car into a tree (west on Highway 20 near Lucerne) while under the influence of drugs.

Authorities released Thorpe to the hospital for treatment of his injuries, the CHP said.

According to the CHP, the defendant was flown by the REACH 7 air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

The CHP said investigators determined that Thorpe’s car was previously reported stolen out of Santa Rosa, and he also was arrested on suspicion of DUI for drugs.