Conspiracy Theory Fails - Gantan Found Guilty, Taken Into Custody

September 19, 2013 | After two hours of deliberations across yesterday afternoon and this morning, the jury in the trial of 23-year...

September 19, 2013 |

After two hours of deliberations across yesterday afternoon and this morning, the jury in the trial of 23-year old Heile Gantan and 23-year old Ladonna Torres found both Elk Grove women guilty for their roles in the May 29, 2011 vehicular accident that killed 20-year old Oscar Ivan Camero of Elk Grove.

Gantan was found guilty on all four counts including drunk driving, impaired driving causing bodily injury and leaving the scene of an accident while Torres was found guilty on the sole count of leaving the scene of an accident. Gantan was found to have driven Torres' 1989 BMW while impaired and speeding resulting in flipping and crashing the car on Power Inn Road in Elk Grove that killed Camero who was a rear seat occupant. 
The spot on Power Inn Road where Oscar Ivan Camero died.

Gantan's attorney Don Masuda, who was not present at the reading, attempted to exonerate her by claiming that a group of primarily Torres friends had conspired to impair her by sneaking rum into her lemonade drink in the hours leading up to the accident and then lying about events. Even though blood test showed Gantan's blood to contain marijuana and above the legal driving limit for alcohol, she denied under testimony to have never knowingly used either substance.       

Judge Allen Sumner granted Deputy District Attorney Keri Reeve's motion to remand Gantan into immediate custody noting the conviction is a so-called strike-offense involving the death of another person and that she poses a flight risk. Torres was not taken into custody and is free on her previous $75,000 bail.

Sentencing is set for 10 a.m. on Friday, October 25 in Department 42 of the Sacramento Superior Court. 


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2 comments

Anonymous said...

EGNews...thank for the excellent coverage. A very sad situation all around, but justice waas served today.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for reporting this. I hope this offers a cautionary tale for everyone, specially our youth, about the perils of drunk driving.

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