LAKE COUNTY ? A man accused of gross vehicle manslaughter that resulted in the death of area restaurant owner Zino Mezoui appeared in court Friday. James Nightingale, 30, of Kelseyville pleaded not guilty and denied all charges in Lake County Superior Court Department 4 in Clearlake before Judge Stephen Hedstrom.
Authorities allege that on the morning of Sept. 24 Nightingale left the scene of an accident after the blue Suburban he was driving went through a stop sign and collided with Mezoui”s motorcycle. Mezoui died due to injuries sustained in the collision.
According to Deputy District Attorney John Langan, Nightingale waived his right to a preliminary hearing within 10 days. His next court appearance is set for Nov. 5 for a preliminary hearing readiness conference. Courtroom assignment is set for Nov. 12. Preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 16 in a courtroom to be determined on Nov. 12.
Nightingale faces felony charges of gross vehicular manslaughter, a charge that Langan said carries a maximum term of six years in prison. Added to that charge is a special allegation in that Nightingale also violated Vehicle Code No. 20001, hit and run, which Langan said adds five years to the gross vehicular manslaughter charge for a maximum sentence of 11 years.
Nightingale faces two additional charges, including felony hit and run as well as a misdemeanor charge for driving on a suspended license due to prior driving under the influence (DUI) conviction(s). Langan said that Nightingale, who is on probation, has another misdemeanor case pending alleging that he drove on a suspended license on Aug. 28. Langan said that case will be addressed after the currently scheduled case against him is resolved.
