LAKEPORT — The preliminary hearing in the case against the Kelseyville man accused of vehicular manslaughter in connection with the death of a Lake County restaurant owner has been scheduled for Tuesday in Department 4.
Judge Richard C. Martin assigned the preliminary hearing to the Clearlake division during a short scheduling hearing Friday morning at the Lake County Courthouse.
James Nightingale, 30, faces three charges in connection with a Sept. 24 incident in which authorities allege Nightingale drove his blue Suburban through a stop sign, collided with a motorcycle driven by Zino Mezoui and left the scene of the incident.
Mezoui, the owner of Zino”s Ristorante and Inn in Soda Bay, died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision. Nightingale surrendered to authorities on Sept. 29.
Nightingale pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include felony vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended license.
The preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin at an unspecified time Tuesday.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
