Rich N.
2015-08-14 19:51:11 UTC
SANTA ANA A San Diego woman sobbed and struggled to hold back
tears as she was convicted Thursday of causing a fatal freeway
crash while speeding and using her cellphone.
An Orange County Superior Court jury found Jorene Nicolas guilty
of manslaughter for the death of 23-year-old Deanna Mauer, a
former star softball player whose vehicle was rear-ended on
April 27, 2011, in near-standstill traffic on the 405 freeway in
Westminster.
Mauers family hugged each other and sobbed as the verdict was
read. After the hearing, Mauers parents said they initially
felt sorry for Nicolas, until they saw an interview where
Nicolas denied responsibility for the crash.
She kept trying to blame my daughter for the accident, and my
daughter was just sitting there in traffic, said Dawn Mauer,
Deannas mother. Finally, my daughters name is cleared for
something she had nothing to do with. ... The truth is finally
here.
Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker said Nicolas was
driving at 85 miles per hour at the time of the crash. The
prosecutor also noted that Nicolas was both texting and calling
in the minutes leading up to the fatal collision.
Nicolas attorney, Joe Dane, described the crash as a tragic
accident, denying that his client was on her phone. Nicolas
previously claimed that Mauer had veered into her lane, causing
her to swerve and hit the freeways center divider.
The jury deliberated for less than a day before coming back with
their guilty verdict.
It was the second time that Nicolas was tried for Mauers death.
An earlier jury deadlocked, leading the judge to declare a
mistrial.
Nicolas struggled to keep her emotions in check after Thursdays
verdict. She cried as her attorney and family members attempted
to console her. She again erupted in tears and sobs as she was
handcuffed and led out of the courtroom.
Judge Steven D. Bromberg denied Danes request for Nicolas to
remain out of custody while awaiting sentencing. The judge said
he took no pleasure in taking Nicolas away from her 4-year-old
daughter, but worried that she was a flight risk.
Nicolas, who faces up to six years in prison, is scheduled to
return to court for sentencing on Sept. 4.
Mauer, a former star softball player at Fountain Valley High
School and San Jose State, was an assistant coach at San Juan
Hills High School in San Juan Capistrano at the time her death.
She was heading home from an early morning shift at Whole Foods
when her Hyundai was struck by Nicolas Toyota Prius.
Dawn Mauer said she still thinks about her daughter every day.
Both Dawn and her husband, Howard Mauer, have tattoos in their
daughters memory. Howard Mauers shows Deannas face, while
Dawn Mauers shows her hand print.
Howard Mauer expressed hope that his daughters death and the
guilty verdict will bring renewed attention to the dangers of
texting and driving.
Its not worth a human life, he said. I think we have to
address this as a nation.
Contact the writer: ***@ocregister.com
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/nicolas-677351-mauer-
daughter.html
tears as she was convicted Thursday of causing a fatal freeway
crash while speeding and using her cellphone.
An Orange County Superior Court jury found Jorene Nicolas guilty
of manslaughter for the death of 23-year-old Deanna Mauer, a
former star softball player whose vehicle was rear-ended on
April 27, 2011, in near-standstill traffic on the 405 freeway in
Westminster.
Mauers family hugged each other and sobbed as the verdict was
read. After the hearing, Mauers parents said they initially
felt sorry for Nicolas, until they saw an interview where
Nicolas denied responsibility for the crash.
She kept trying to blame my daughter for the accident, and my
daughter was just sitting there in traffic, said Dawn Mauer,
Deannas mother. Finally, my daughters name is cleared for
something she had nothing to do with. ... The truth is finally
here.
Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker said Nicolas was
driving at 85 miles per hour at the time of the crash. The
prosecutor also noted that Nicolas was both texting and calling
in the minutes leading up to the fatal collision.
Nicolas attorney, Joe Dane, described the crash as a tragic
accident, denying that his client was on her phone. Nicolas
previously claimed that Mauer had veered into her lane, causing
her to swerve and hit the freeways center divider.
The jury deliberated for less than a day before coming back with
their guilty verdict.
It was the second time that Nicolas was tried for Mauers death.
An earlier jury deadlocked, leading the judge to declare a
mistrial.
Nicolas struggled to keep her emotions in check after Thursdays
verdict. She cried as her attorney and family members attempted
to console her. She again erupted in tears and sobs as she was
handcuffed and led out of the courtroom.
Judge Steven D. Bromberg denied Danes request for Nicolas to
remain out of custody while awaiting sentencing. The judge said
he took no pleasure in taking Nicolas away from her 4-year-old
daughter, but worried that she was a flight risk.
Nicolas, who faces up to six years in prison, is scheduled to
return to court for sentencing on Sept. 4.
Mauer, a former star softball player at Fountain Valley High
School and San Jose State, was an assistant coach at San Juan
Hills High School in San Juan Capistrano at the time her death.
She was heading home from an early morning shift at Whole Foods
when her Hyundai was struck by Nicolas Toyota Prius.
Dawn Mauer said she still thinks about her daughter every day.
Both Dawn and her husband, Howard Mauer, have tattoos in their
daughters memory. Howard Mauers shows Deannas face, while
Dawn Mauers shows her hand print.
Howard Mauer expressed hope that his daughters death and the
guilty verdict will bring renewed attention to the dangers of
texting and driving.
Its not worth a human life, he said. I think we have to
address this as a nation.
Contact the writer: ***@ocregister.com
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/nicolas-677351-mauer-
daughter.html