LAKEPORT — A judge Monday scheduled a June start date for the trial of a Kelseyville man charged with killing two passengers during a rollover crash late last summer.
Jacobo Lopez Mejia, 24, faces five counts — including two felony charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated — in connection with the fatal incident along Merritt Road in Kelseyville.
Authorities allege he was under the influence while driving a Ford F-150 on the night of Aug. 18 when he lost control of the truck, which then went off of the road and overturned several times.
Two of the passengers, Hector Chavez Perez and Florentino Leon Flores, died at the scene.
The remaining four occupants, including Lopez Mejia, were reportedly transported to various hospitals.
Lopez Mejia appeared at the Lake County Courthouse Monday morning for arraignment after waiving his right to a preliminary examination Feb. 16, the day the pretrial hearing was to occur.
Defense counsel Doug Rhoades told the court Monday that Lopez Mejia would plead not guilty to the five counts and would deny the five special allegations in the case.
Judge Andrew S. Blum then scheduled the jury trial to begin June 13.
Lopez Mejia will next appear in court April 2 for a mandatory settlement conference.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
