By Patrick Cowles
Asst. News Editor
Published: December 16, 2009
Categorized in | Featured Stories, Local News, News
Jessica Shekell, 22, has been released on bond as of 6:04 p.m. Dec. 15, 2009. Her pre-trail hearing is set for Feb. 26, 2010. Photo courtesy of the Orange County District Attorney's Office
Jessica Shekell, 22, a Cal State Fullerton sociology major, has been charged with 12 felony counts related to a fatal car crash that occurred on Oct. 26.
The Orange County District Attorney’s office stated the following via email:
“Shekell’s vehicle and the victims’ vehicle were totaled. Sally Miguel was pronounced dead at the scene. Patricia, who was riding in the front passenger seat, was transported to Western Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead shortly after 4:20 a.m. Shekell is accused of causing the blunt force injuries that killed both victims. Mary and Sara Miguel suffered internal injuries and were transported to area hospitals for treatment.”
Shekell’s arraignment was held Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.; her pre-trial disposition has been set for Feb. 26 at 8:30 a.m in Department N-3, North Justice Center, Fullerton, stated the Orange County District Attorney’s office via email.
Shekell was found to have been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more.
An email from the Orange County District Attorney’s office stated her blood alcohol level to be .26 percent approximately 45 minutes after the collision, more than three times the legal limit.
The Superior Court of California’s County of Orange Web site stated she has been charged with the following:
Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, 2 counts.
Inflict great bodily harm, 8 counts.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs with injury, 1 count.
DUI with BAC of .08 percent or more causing injury, 1 count.
“We added the Great Bodily Injury enhancement to the charges as enhancements to the sentence,” said Susan Price, Deputy District Attorney.
Although Shekell has been charged with 12 felony counts, the eight inflict great bodily harm counts are sentencing enhancements, not criminal charges; to which the defendant can accept or deny, rather than plead guilty or not guilty to.
“You can deny or accept sentencing enhancement charges, however, you plea guilty or not guilty to criminal charges,” said Price.
“A sentencing enhancement is just that, an enhancement to the sentence, that if the defendant is found guilty of the charges against them, would increase their maximum possible sentence,” said Farrah Emami, spokesperson for the Orange County District Attorney’s office.
If found guilty on all accounts, Shekell may face a maximum sentencing of 19 years and eight months in state prison.
“The sentencing scheme can be confusing, so it’s hard to get into detail about how 19 years and 8 months is the maximum sentence, but we looked at what under the law is the maximum sentencing for each charge,” said Price. “You can be convicted of multiple crimes, but you may not necessarily be punished for all of them, because some of those crimes can be merged.”
Shekell pled not guilty or denied the charges on the above counts.
She was arrested Tuesday, but was released on bail from the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana at 6:04 p.m. today, stated the Orange County Sheriff’s Web site.
Her bail was set at $150,000.
Deputy District Attorney Susan Price of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
Click here for background on the crash.
Click here to view the criminal complaint.
Daily Titan Staff Writer Beatriz Fernandez and Daily Titan Asst. News Editor Patrick Cowles contributed to this post.
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56 Responses to “Jessica Lynn Shekell charged with 12 felony counts”
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The transportation bureau should change their seat belt campaign to “Click it or Shekell”
jessica IS WRONG. she KILLD my family. my sisters children cry everyday for their aunts.
btw these werent just “oh one of my aunts” these woman Were like MOTHERS to sarah and mary. “their romodels” mary once told me.
i do hope our family gets justice.
and no i dont think jessica needs any sympathy.
Her Family is making her irrisponsible by bailing her out
they should of let he in their and think about what shes done
i would of done that for my daughter ( YES I WOULD) who evers saying ” oh well you woulda done the same ” yes i would shes 22 she should know by now.
i still cant belive this.
thank you jessica shekell for RUINING my family.
may god have murcy on you.
When I see this picture, I don’t see a smirk at all. I see despondency. She knows what she did and I think her face bears the signs of reconstruction. What’s most sad, though, is the lives of the sisters being taken and the eternal destruction wrought upon these lives. Seeing her picture should awaken every one of her drinking buddies as to what happened.
Agreed, bob loblaw.
Sandra: I so recognize your pain and your anger. I lost two innocent family members as well. My ONLY sister and her child. VERY painful. I hope you find the strength to forgive Jessica…that is what the bible tells us to do. When we speak of God and religion; we must remember that mercy/forgiveness is all we can truly grant; hate is not the answer…though it feels good to be angry and it’s easy to hate someone who killed family members, that anger, that hate can and WILL destroy you. I am very sorry for the tragedy that has unfolded before you, you are not alone.
The sad truth is, what’s done is done and nothing we do can change that. I can’t tell you how many times I tried to will God and the universe to turn back time and give me back my family; the anguish today can be quite unbearable, 12 years later. I really hope you find the strength to not let this destroy your life and your families any further, you all will need each other. It is horrific to be where you are today, this I know.
bob loblaw: I agree…I see a person who recognizes life will never be the same; most certainly not as enchanted at it was nor will ever be again. I don’t see a smirk at all…I see horrific realization sitting there. Trauma.
I’ll say it again, I feel bad for everyone. This is a sad story with the worst ending. Everyone loses. It’s just all so terrible; I’ve shed tears for everyone.
I am more angry that someone allowed Jessica to drive that intoxicated…she was on autopilot. For example, if she (any of us) were in that constant state of intoxication at that BAC, she’d be ruled incompetent to stand trial. So I’m very angry that another soul(s) watched her get in her truck and go. It freaks me out to think no one stopped her. I am so concerned for all of us when we’ve lost the ability to step in and save another from themselves, or in Jessica’s case, save two innocent people.
I’m sorry, I don’t see Jessica as the devil. I have no hate towards her in the least, I have empathy, she will pay for this for the rest of her life; spiritually, monetarily, and with her freedom. Jessica did not set out to harm others and through disastrous set of circumstances lives were lost and lives were destroyed. Hate is not the answer.
Jessica could be your daughter, your sister, your aunt, your mother…DUI’s are rising among women, why? Educate everyone you know, take the keys of the drunk driver and maybe save a life.
PLEASE ADVOCATE NO DRINKING AND DRIVING.
I truly hope I do not offend anyone.
I can understand why she was allowed to drive that night. All of her friends that night were probably slammed too. You lose all reasoning. They were lucky though they made it home. I would think this will be the best lesson they could ever get.
When I read the Not Guilty plea, I was shocked. Jessica cannot bring back the Miguels, but she can pay retribution by paying for the funerals of the Miguels. She can pay for the hospital bills of the two young girls too. I feel that this would be a start.
Did I read the press release wrong that Jessica was released from the hospital a few weeks after the crash? Which possibly means she was home with her family for the holidays to celebrate. Sounds to me like it was planned so that she wouldn’t have to spend any jail time other than a few hours after formal charges were brought against her. I’m short on words right now because I’m still trying to process this news.
Kind of disappointing they chose to pursue the lesser charge of Gross Vehicular Manslaughter rather than homicide.
Anyone in their right mind and a little bit of representation would plead not guilty or deny charges. It’s mostly a formality. Believe it or not, it means very little. Remember “due process” is the law in this country, we all have that right, thank God!
thank all of you for sticking up for me
& observer thank you for paying attention to this board.
James seriously could u send us the pictures
marygoongirll [at] live [dot] com
yes two L’s.
we only have a couple.
as for donations just email victoria ^ in the email above.
shell give you the address and number ill tell her people are willing to give help for the holidays.
god bless you all.
they really need it for the girls.
Sandra, I don’t understand what you are trying to prove by posting on this blog other than the fact that you cannot spell. If you really are who you say you are, then instead of wasting your time online, you should be taking care of those two little girls.
Lovely! More about Sandra’s spelling! Future Inmate Shekell has such classy friends.
And how thoughtful to tell Sandra what she should be doing with her time! What Sandra SHOULD be doing with her time is going about her normal life…but she can’t BECAUSE YOUR SACK OF SH*T FRIEND KILLED HER FAMILY!!!
Really: you are so out of line saying ANYTHING negative to Sandra. Where is your decency and sense? Granted we get you are defending Jessica, but attacking the victims of the crime is very low. You should be ashamed of yourself, really.
Sandra: please ignore the ignorant. A MAJORITY of everyone on this planet understands your plight. Be at peace against hate.
Sandra, you should talk to MADD about proposing stricter laws. Why was she allowed to drive after she had drank soo incredibly much? Isn’t there already laws on bars to cut someone off after drinking too much? Why aren’t these being enforced? The bars and restaurants should have something, anything, brought against them! Don’t let sally and patricias death be in vein. Unless more people like the “friends” of jessica who were with her last nite are held responceable, it’ll continue to happen to many thousands of other people! Has anyone thought of silent protests outside of the court house and along all the building entrances? Bring attention to the miguels case and the justice that deserves to happen.murder is murder wether intenional or not. Why should someone be charged differnt than someone else, there should be a set amount of years givin for every life you take without the possibility of parole, they should have a minimum bail amount automatically instated when there is a fatality, 2 mil and 150,000… Those are incredible $ variances for both to have involved fatalities with both drives to have been under the influence. There should be a 2 million dollar minimum per life you take… Jessicas shouldn’t have been 150,000, that’s piss! Your only required to put down 10% with most bails bond men, so her parents didn’t even have to pay the 150 to get her out. She killed your family days before halloween and she was able to be home with her family before thanksgiving.what’s fair about that? She shouldn’t have been able to be home for christmas, when will we learn that its never okay to let someone drive home drunk? When will everyone learn that there’s NEVER a good excuses to drink and drive.NEVER.there’s so much that can be done to make sure no one ever feels the pain that your family is experiancing, you should sue the buisness that allowed jessica to keep drinking and then drive! Jessica should get two consecutive life sentences for what she’s done along with time for her dui and negligince, Then sue her for wrongful death.
My aunt passed away about 20 years ago from a older man that fell alsleep behind the wheel driving. The car was filled with my entire family. My aunt got hit the worst and her head came right off into my cousin’s lap. I understand there is alot of anger but we all need to forgive.
As for Jessicas close friends and family. She deserves whatever the judge throws at her. How would you feel if the Miguel family took away Jessica in a terrible death as this one? Here she took two life and corrupted the whole family for there entire life.
Sandra, Roma understand. – Chris RG
why did she get bail??