Charges filed in death of Angels pitcher By Tony Barboza

Wednesday night, April 8, 2009, marked the last day of the life of three young people: Courtney Francis Stewart, Nick Adenhart, and Henry Pearson. On their way to a nightclub in a Mitsubishi eclipse, they were "broadsided" by a Toyota Siena minivan driven by Andrew Thomas Gallo. Los Angeles Times writer, Tony Barboza, wrote about the the deceased and the charges filed against Andrew Thomas Gallo in his article "Charges filed in death of Angels pitcher", April 11, 2009. Driving the Mitsubishi eclipse was Cal State Fullerton communications student Courtney Stewart, 20, along with passengers Nick Adenhart, Angels pitcher (22), Henry Pearson, a 25-year-old law student, and Jon Wilhite,24, former catcher for the Cal State Fullerton Titans. Courtney Stewart, Nick Adenhart, and Henry Pearson were all killed in this crash while Jon Wilhite remains hospitalized. Andrew Gallo,22, who already had a suspended license at the time of the crash due to a 2006 DUI conviction in Riverside county, was charged with three accounts of murder. As Courtney Stewart drove into the intersection of Orangethorpe Avenue and Lemon Street, Gallo exceeded the 35 miles per hour speed limit flying through the red light at 50-65 miles per hour crashing into the Mitsubishi eclipse Courtney Stewart was driving. Gallo left the scene on foot without checking on the victims and was arrested thirty minutes later. He was questioned early Friday where "he was calm and answered clearly." Barboza states that prosecutors decided to charge Gallo with murder instead of vehicular manslaughter because he was 'doing an inherently dangerous act' without regard for the safety of others. District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said that "When their conduct is this egregious-high speed, high blood alcohol content, priors- it's more preferable to prosecute as murder." If Gallo is convicted on all counts, he will face a sentence of 55 years to life.


Application: Do you feel that Gallo's charges are appropriate? Is it possible that he was charged with murder rather than vehicular manslaughter because one of the three killed was a professional athlete?

Application: There has been several fatal car crashes recently resulting in the deaths of several people. How do you feel about the penalty for drunk driving? Is it fine as it is or do you think there should be some changes to it?