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Hearing starts for driver accused of crashing through bedroom, killing sleeping teen

by M. Dilworth • January 23, 2015

Roberto Rodriguez, who was 20 years old at the time of the crash, is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and crashing his Nissan Pathfinder through an apartment during the early morning hours of April 20, 2014. The crash killed 16-year-old Palmdale High School student Giselle Mendoza as she slept in her bed.
Roberto Rodriguez, who was 20 years old at the time of the crash, is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and crashing his Nissan Pathfinder through an apartment during the early morning hours of April 20, 2014. The crash killed 16-year-old Palmdale High School student Giselle Mendoza as she slept in her bedroom.

PALMDALE – A preliminary hearing began Friday to determine if a 21-year-old Palmdale man will stand trial for crashing his vehicle through an apartment and allegedly killing a teenage girl as she slept on Easter Sunday 2014.

Roberto Rodríguez is charged with driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury, driving with a .08% blood alcohol content causing injury, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and murder in connection with the April 20 death of 16-year-old Giselle Mendoza.

At Friday’s court hearing, two officers testified about the events that occurred during the early morning hours of April 20, 2014 and the investigation that followed.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy John Gaudino testified that he was patrolling the vicinity of 10th Street East and Avenue R when he noticed a sport utility vehicle crashed through the south side of an apartment complex at 1005 East Avenue R in Palmdale. Gaudino said he forced open the vehicle’s door to check on its driver, and he observed that the driver had watery eyes, slurred speech and smelled of alcohol.

“He told me he was fine,” Gaudino testified. After detaining the driver in the back seat of a patrol car, Gaudino said he spoke to witnesses who were gathered on the sidewalk. A man said his stepdaughter was sleeping inside the room where the vehicle crashed, and the man feared his stepdaughter was trapped underneath the vehicle, Gaudino testified.

The deputy said he couldn’t see anyone under the vehicle, so he climbed over the roof of the Nissan Pathfinder to continue his search. He and other responding deputies began clearing away debris from around the vehicle, and that’s when they located the teen, Gaudino testified.

“She was in between the vehicle and the wall,” Gaudino said.

Another responding deputy, Matthew Davis, testified Friday about transporting Rodriguez to Palmdale Regional Medical Center for a blood test and medical evaluation.

Rodriguez admitted to drinking four to six beers at a friend’s house before the crash, and he said he started drinking around 11 p.m. April 19 and stopped drinking around 3:30 a.m. April 20, Davis testified. Davis also testified that Rodriguez failed a series of field sobriety tests and took two breathalyzer tests, which showed readings of .156 and .143.

The hearing was continued until Tuesday, Jan. 27, when more witnesses are expected to be called. At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, a judge will determine whether there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.

Rodriguez remains jailed with bail set at $1,030,000. If convicted as charged on all counts, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 15-years-to-life in state prison.

–

Previous related stories:

Alleged DUI driver charged with murder in Easter Sunday apartment crash

Loved ones mourn girl killed when alleged drunk driver crashed through bedroom

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

14 comments for "Hearing starts for driver accused of crashing through bedroom, killing sleeping teen"

  1. callitasitis says

    January 26, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    Life sounds good but he will most likely not get life. He did not care about another human’s life when he got drunk. Choices always have consequences good or bad; if “you drink” DO NOT DRIVE.

  2. Ari says

    January 26, 2015 at 3:08 am

    I totally agree that 15 years isn’t enough to pay for what he did but the possibility is 15 years TO LIFE, so he can still be sentenced to life in prison.

  3. DM says

    January 25, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    He didn’t make a mistake, he made a decision. He has to live with it AND pay the price.
    15 years doesn’t seem fair for taking someone’s life.

  4. nicholas wallace says

    January 24, 2015 at 6:26 pm

    My heart hurts knowing that i lived in the apartments where this young girl lived. I can be sitting outside smoking a cigarette and she looks up and Say HI i feel this man should die in prison. Not because he was drunk. Because this girl will never see her family, friends, r sun light again. MR AND MRS MENDOZA MY HEART GOES TO U. GISELLE MENDOZA PLEASE LOOK DOWN ON UR FAMILY THEY NEED YOU MORE THEN UR FRIENDS. THROUGH THE PAIN YOUR LOVED. REST WELL GISELLE REST WELL..

  5. Diasy says

    January 24, 2015 at 7:51 am

    I’m very sorry for what happen to the young girl. Things happen and we don’t know how to explain. I believe any other car could have run into the wall into those apartments and it would have been an accident if the driver wasn’t drunk. But the fact that he was drunk makes him guilty.. I’m so sorry for both the young girl and the young kid. If his convicted he will spend his life in a cell without his family too. I see the two sides point of view. Parents are hurt on both sides .

  6. ralo says

    January 24, 2015 at 7:48 am

    he will be about 35 when he gets out that’s just not right

    • Revolution 9 says

      January 24, 2015 at 8:31 am

      Choices have consequences. He should go to prison for a long time.

    • Fernando says

      January 24, 2015 at 8:47 am

      It’s not right to drink and know you’re [removed] drunk and still have the idiotic mentality to think you can still get behind the wheel, especially when you already have a DUI. Im eighteen and I make irrisponsible decisions when i drive too, but this guy just took it too far and the fact that he was doing around 80 when his crashed. What do you think he deserves? Cause i know damn well you don’t hop a curve, take a steel rail, 4×4 wood beams and cement walls at 50 mph.
      Giselle had too much to live for honestly.
      RIP Giselle

    • M13 says

      January 24, 2015 at 10:21 am

      And the poor dead girl will never be alive, EVER. He can rot.

  7. Brittney says

    January 24, 2015 at 7:17 am

    They need to keep him in for more than 5 years. He took my friend from me. And i dislike how he was bailed out. I will feel as if Giselle is in peace once she gets justice.

  8. Mary says

    January 24, 2015 at 6:31 am

    No one wins in this situation; a young girl has lost her life and a young boy will be in jail probably for the rest of his life. I don’t wish either on either one of these lives. I only hope that that kids will come to understand how incredibly dangerous it is to drink. When you are already pass the drunk phase, you end up doing life changing actions; having sex with just anyone, driving while intoxicated, fighting, etc. I pray for both families for strength during this very tough time. I also pray for the young boy, that through this tragedy, he can elp other young boys who walk through jail doors to change their lives. Such a horrific happening.

  9. Scott says

    January 23, 2015 at 11:41 pm

    Rodríguez should be tried. He drove after drinking. He clearly was drunk, and shouldn’t have even behind the wheel. People need to take responsibility for their actions. He killed a young woman. Giselle Mendoza had her whole life ahead of her. This case should go to trial.

    I think about this every time I drive by that apartment building.

    RIP Giselle.

  10. hope says

    January 23, 2015 at 9:48 pm

    I still remember when this happened…Giselle was and is a lovely girl that will never be forgotten. God bless her entire family. Please stop these people. No one should ever drive under the influence of alcohol.

  11. Danny says

    January 23, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    I hope they gas him!

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