LAKEPORT — A Clearlake man accused of causing an April fatal crash in Lower Lake pleaded no contest to several counts Wednesday in what would be a global settlement of all the felony cases against him, if accepted by the court.
Danny Kirk Fields II, 28, entered the pleas at the Lake County Courthouse Wednesday morning, the day of the preliminary hearing in the case charging him with murder and four other counts for the death of Jennifer Clark, 31.
Fields pleaded no contest to felony driving under the influence causing injury and felony hit and run. He also admitted allegations of personally inflicting great bodily injury during the crash and being out on bail for two other felony cases at the time.
Additionally, Fields pleaded no contest to felonies of possessing methamphetamine in February and March.
The plea agreement calls for Fields to serve a state prison term of 12 years and four months.
Judge Stephen O. Hedstrom referred the cases to the Lake County Probation Department for a report and recommendation.
If the court accepts the plea deal, the other counts and allegations against Fields will be dismissed, senior deputy district attorney John Langan said. Barry Melton, Fields” public defender, declined to comment Thursday.
The District Attorney”s Office originally charged Fields with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury, hit and run, and a misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license for the April 15 crash on Highway 29 north of Highway 53.
Authorities allege Fields drove a Chevrolet El Camino off the highway during the early morning hours and crashed into a tree. He allegedly fled the scene, but law enforcement contacted him at a hospital later that morning.
When officers found the car, Clark was reportedly in the passenger seat. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fields was taken into custody on the original charges April 19 after being released from the hospital, but subsequent investigation by the California Highway Patrol led to the DA”s Office filing a separate case Aug. 24, charging him with murder as well as the same four counts alleged in the first case.
The murder case was scheduled for preliminary hearing Wednesday morning, but Fields accepted the plea agreement instead. Clark”s mother and daughter were present in the courtroom, Langan said.
Fields is set to appear in court Oct. 16 for sentencing. Hedstrom would decide whether to accept the agreement on that day.
Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636, ext. 37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com. Follow him on Twitter, @JeremyDWalsh.
