BAKERSFIELD, CA -- The verdict is in the county's first vehicular manslaughter trial where texting and driving were in question.
The jury came back and found Anna Marie Reynosa not guilty of gross vehicular manslaughter, which carried the heaviest sentence. Instead, they found her guilty of vehicular manslaughter with ordinary negligence. She is a free woman,until sentencing.
This means Reynosa could face a year in county jail when she is sentenced. That is much lighter than the six-year prison sentence Reynosa would have faced if she was found guilty of gross negligence.
Reynosa hugged her attorney, Ernest Hinman, crying in relief and she continued to cry as the jury found her guilty of the lesser misdemeanor.
Also crying in the courtroom, in disappointment, the family of Charla Wilkins. Wilkins was stopped at a stop sign on her motorcycle April 14, 2012. That is when Reynosa ran the stop sign, hit Wilkins from behind and killed her.
Reynosa was accused of texting and speeding at the time of the crash. That would have led to gross negligence. But, the jury didn't find enough evidence to find Reynosa guilty of that.
When asked if he thought this was justice, supervising deputy district attorney, Michael Yraceburn said, "I'm not going to comment on that at this point. The jury has rendered it's verdict. We will accept what it is." He added, "We are disappointed."
Reynosa's attorney, Ernest Hinman felt differently. He said, "I'm happy for my client. No one wins here. Ms. Reynosa feels terrible about what happened. She's felt terrible since the day that is has happened. I'm happy for her. It brings some closure to us but there's really no winners here."
After the verdict, Reynosa did not want to talk to us. Friends and family tried to hide her from the cameras.
Judge John Lua ruled to let her go free on bond since she has no prior criminal history and she always showed up for her trial.
The family of Charla Wilkins also did not want to talk to us.
Reynosa will be sentenced June 26.
The jury came back and found Anna Marie Reynosa not guilty of gross vehicular manslaughter, which carried the heaviest sentence. Instead, they found her guilty of vehicular manslaughter with ordinary negligence. She is a free woman,until sentencing.
This means Reynosa could face a year in county jail when she is sentenced. That is much lighter than the six-year prison sentence Reynosa would have faced if she was found guilty of gross negligence.
Reynosa hugged her attorney, Ernest Hinman, crying in relief and she continued to cry as the jury found her guilty of the lesser misdemeanor.
Also crying in the courtroom, in disappointment, the family of Charla Wilkins. Wilkins was stopped at a stop sign on her motorcycle April 14, 2012. That is when Reynosa ran the stop sign, hit Wilkins from behind and killed her.
Reynosa was accused of texting and speeding at the time of the crash. That would have led to gross negligence. But, the jury didn't find enough evidence to find Reynosa guilty of that.
When asked if he thought this was justice, supervising deputy district attorney, Michael Yraceburn said, "I'm not going to comment on that at this point. The jury has rendered it's verdict. We will accept what it is." He added, "We are disappointed."
Reynosa's attorney, Ernest Hinman felt differently. He said, "I'm happy for my client. No one wins here. Ms. Reynosa feels terrible about what happened. She's felt terrible since the day that is has happened. I'm happy for her. It brings some closure to us but there's really no winners here."
After the verdict, Reynosa did not want to talk to us. Friends and family tried to hide her from the cameras.
Judge John Lua ruled to let her go free on bond since she has no prior criminal history and she always showed up for her trial.
The family of Charla Wilkins also did not want to talk to us.
Reynosa will be sentenced June 26.