Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 25, 2005 Guevarra under house arrest By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune The man charged with driving drunk and killing a high school senior on her graduation night is under house arrest so he can continue medical treatment. Jonathon Albert Guevarra, 19, of Eagle Point, pleaded not guilty Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court to charges of first-degree manslaughter, reckless driving and driving under the influence of intoxicants in connection with the June 3 death of 18-year-old Leah Castillo. The manslaughter charge carries a mandatory prison sentence of 10 years. Prosecutors allege Guevarra was under the influence of alcohol and drugs when his Chevrolet Blazer smashed head-on into Castillo’s Nissan Sentra along Ashland’s North Main Street. Castillo, of Talent, was headed to a parent-sponsored all-night graduation party. It’s unknown exactly what substances were in Guevarra’s body that night because laboratory tests are not complete, said Allan Smith, deputy district attorney for Jackson County. However, he has reason to believe, Smith said, that Guevarra had consumed a combination of several illegal or prescription drugs. A grand jury indicted Guevarra last week. Police found beer cans outside the Blazer following the crash. Guevarra was participating in a year-long diversion program after pleading guilty to DUII in October. Smith sought to have the diversion agreement revoked Friday. Advertisement "By all rights in a case like this, he should be in jail," Smith told the court. But the Jackson County Jail will not house Guevarra on account of injuries he suffered in the crash, Smith said. Hunched in a wheelchair, Guevarra told Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Mejia that he was scheduled for two surgeries on his left ankle next month. Plastic tubing connected to a pump protruded through bandages on his damaged foot. "Basically, I’m placing you under house arrest," Mejia said. Guevarra is to be electronically monitored and can only leave his East Main Street home for medical treatment or to meet with release coordinators, Mejia said. Smith said he didn’t know if he would ask Mejia to incarcerate Guevarra once he had recovered. Guevarra voluntarily appeared in court Friday although a warrant with a $500,000 bail had been secured for his arrest. Defense attorneys requested a hearing on the DUII diversion. Guevarra’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 1. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Air Purifiers Advertisement s