LAKEPORT — A man pleaded not guilty Monday to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and other charges for his alleged role in a rollover outside of downtown Kelseyville two weeks ago.
Authorities allege that Jacobo Lopezmejia, 24, was under the influence of alcohol while driving a Ford F-150 late on Aug. 18 when he drifted off of Merritt Road and lost control of the vehicle, which ultimately exited the road and overturned several times.
Two of the five passengers died at the scene while the remaining three and the driver were transported to various hospitals. Lopezmejia was placed under arrest after the incident and later booked into the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility on Aug. 23.
The Lake County District Attorney”s Office has charged Lopezmejia with two felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, because of the deaths of passengers Hector C. Perez and Florentino Leon Flores, two felony counts of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury and a misdemeanor count of driving without a license.
Lopezmejia also faces five special allegations for allegedly inflicting injury on each of the passengers during the incident.
He appeared before Judge Andrew S. Blum Monday at the Lake County Courthouse and pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to court records.
He remains in custody on $200,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled for Wednesday morning.
The California Highway Patrol reported the driver”s name as Jacobo Mejia at the time of the crash but he has been charged under the name Jacobo Lopezmejia.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
