Three-time DUI defendant sentenced to 15 years to life for killing 23-year-old woman
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV): Update Dec. 1, 2022, at 5:13 p.m.-Monterey County District Attorney Jeannie M. Pacioni announced Thursday that a Greenfield man was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for second-degree murder while driving under the influence.
Baltazar Donato, 28, of Greenfield, was previously found guilty of two prior DUIs and causing bodily injury to more than one victim, according to Pacioni. In October, Donato was found guilty of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol causing injury, driving over the legal limit, and driving with a suspended license.
On Feb. 2, 2021, Donato was driving the wrong way on southbound Highway 101 in the San Ardo area when he crashed head-on into a vehicle killing 23-year-old Sabrina Lecce. Lecce was pronounced dead at the scene and her passenger sustained a shoulder injury.
A subsequent blood test showed Donato’s blood alcohol was .19%, over two times the legal limit. Evidence from the “black” box in Donato’s car showed he was driving at speeds of 87 miles per hour within seconds of the collision and failed to brake until within 0.2 seconds of the collision. Donato has prior convictions for DUI in Monterey County from 2012 and from Idaho in 2018.
Jeannie M. Pacioni
At the sentencing family of Lecce filled the courtroom.
ORIGINAL STORY
Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Tuesday evening that Baltazar Donato, 28, of Greenfield, was found guilty of second-degree murder.
The jury also found Donato guilty of additional counts of Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Injury, Driving Under the Influence with a Blood Alcohol Level of .08 percent causing injury, and Driving on a Suspended License.
According to Pacioni, Donato had two previous DUI convictions, one in Monterey County in 2012 and in Idaho in 2018.
On Feb. 2, 2021, Donato was driving the wrong way on southbound Highway 101 in the San Ardo area when he crashed head-on into a vehicle killing 23-year-old Sabrina Lecce. Lecce was pronounced dead at the scene and her passenger sustained a shoulder injury.
A blood test showed that Donato's blood alcohol level was at .19 %, which is twice the legal limit.
Pacioni said that at the time of the crash, Donato was driving 87 miles per hour and failed to brake to avoid the collision.
Donato will be sentenced on Nov. 30. He is facing a sentence of 15 years to life.
