A 21-year-old Fullerton man made his first appearance in court Friday on charges of committing vehicular manslaughter last year in Fullerton.
Sergio Steven Sevilla, who was arrested Wednesday, is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter with a sentencing enhancement for fleeing the scene of the crash. His arraignment was rescheduled for Aug. 24 and he was ordered held on $1 million bail, according to court records.
Charges were filed against Sevilla on June 15. In a motion to increase the defendant’s bail, Fullerton police alleged that after his arrest and release in July of last year it was believed he fled to Mexico.
Sevilla is accused of killing 20-year-old Gabriel Ventura of Fullerton, who was in the front right passenger seat of the car Sevilla was driving when it crashed, according to police.
Sevilla had gotten into an argument with his girlfriend July 2, 2017, and allegedly assaulted her just prior to the 9:15 p.m. crash at Sapphire Road and Garnet Lane, police said last year.
Sevilla was driving a black 2013 Volkswagen Jetta eastbound on Garnet Lane when he allegedly tried to turn north onto Sapphire Road and lost control of the car. The Volkswagen hit the curb, causing it to roll over several times and partially eject Ventura, police said.
Hours after the crash, Sevilla called authorities to turn himself in, police said.
Sevilla pleaded guilty Aug. 18, 2017, to misdemeanor counts of driving drunk and reckless driving in May of last year in a separate case, according to court records. He was ordered to perform 49 hours of community service.
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