People v. Martinez

Defendant was involved in an accidental collision with a twelve-year-old boy riding on a scooter. Defendant stopped and checked on the boy. Defendant drove off when he saw the boy loaded into an ambulance. Defendant pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an injury accident in violation of Cal. Veh. Code 20001(a). The trial court sentenced Defendant to three years in prison and ordered him to pay $425,654.68 to the victim as restitution for injuries suffered as a result of the accident. The court of appeal reversed the restitution order, concluding that the trial court erred in fixing the amount of restitution. The Supreme Court affirmed. Cal. Penal Code 1202.4 provides that a defendant must pay restitution to the victim for losses incurred “as a result of the commission of a crime.” Here, Defendant’s crime was not being involved in a traffic accident but, rather, was leaving the scene of the accident without presenting identification or rendering aid. Accordingly, the trial court was authorized to order restitution for injuries that were caused or exacerbated by Defendant’s criminal flight from the scene of the accident, but it was not authorized to award restitution for injuries resulting from the underlying accident that involved no criminal wrongdoing. View "People v. Martinez" on Justia Law