LAKEPORT — Emotions ran high in the courtroom as the driver in a fatal car crash that killed three people in January pleaded no contest to three of five charges Tuesday morning.
Michael James Wright, 50, of Hidden Valley Lake pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts of gross vehicular manslaughter for the deaths of his passengers: longtime girlfriend Kari Lynn Marks, 53, her daughter Jena Marie Marks, 24, and Jena”s boyfriend Patrick Earl Campbell, 27.
The crash occurred the night of Jan. 14 on Highway 29 on a curve near Twin Lakes. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) estimated Wright was traveling at a speed of 84 mph in a BMW sedan when it crashed into a Ford SUV occupied by Steven and Lezley Beyer.
For count one, Judge Andrew S. Blum sentenced Wright to the maximum term of one year in the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Blum said the sentence stipulated Wright would not be allowed to serve his sentence by home confinement or through the use of electronic monitoring. Wright is also barred from applying for work furlough or early release.
Senior Deputy District Attorney John Langan said Wright will serve at least six months of his sentence with the possibility of getting out early because of work time or good behavior credits.
For counts two and three, Blum sentenced Wright to three years probation. Wright”s license was revoked for a period of three years. He was ordered to pay restitution to the decedents” families as well as the Beyers.
Two counts of reckless driving causing specific injury, charged against Wright for the Beyers” injuries, were dismissed in favor of Wright paying restitution for their ongoing medical costs incurred as a result of the crash.
Langan said the families agreed to Wright pleading to misdemeanors rather than felonies so that he would be employable after his release and be able to pay restitution.
Wright worked for more than 28 years as a captain with CAL FIRE.
About a dozen family members were present in court for the plea and sentencing. Tears were shed as statements from the Beyers and the victims” families were read into the record.
The family members, who stated they initially supported Wright before the May release of the CHP report on the crash, condemned him for driving 30 mph above the speed limit on a curve.
“Mike made the choice to drive in a reckless, negligent manner with my family in the car,” Shari Coulombe, Kari Marks” twin sister, said.
“Thirty mph over the speed limit is reckless disregard for safety,” Linda Campbell, mother of Patrick Campbell, said.
“You”re a fire captain. You”ve seen hundreds of accidents and the type of damage a high-speed vehicle can cause in a crash,” Daniel Walters, Kari Marks” son and Jena Marks” brother, said to Wright.
The families asked Blum to impose the maximum sentence.
Wright also read a statement into the record. He said he was “deeply sorry” to the Beyers for their injuries and hoped they continued to recover.
Wright, who was in an 11-year relationship with Kari Marks when the crash occurred, said he loved her and thought of Jena as his own daughter.
“I miss them every day,” he said. “It”s a burden I have to bear and will bear for the rest of my life.”
Following the sentencing, Blum remanded Wright immediately into custody, which evoked gasps and tears from family members.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
