Champion Dirtbag of 2015!
Redding Man Sentenced to Maximum Sentence for Felony Assault with a Vehicle While Driving Under the Influence
REDDING, CALIF. — According to the Shasta County District Attorney, on Feb. 1, 2016, the Honorable Judge William D. Gallagher sentenced Dominic Salvador Ventimiglia, 74, to four years in State Prison for a felony charge in connection with a September 26, 2015, incident wherein the defendant intentionally attempted to ram a pedestrian in a crosswalk, while driving under the influence.
A Shasta County jury found the defendant guilty of one felony count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon: Vehicle, and two misdemeanor counts of Driving Under the Influence on January 6, 2016. The defendant had pled guilty to a related misdemeanor count of driving while his license was suspended due to a prior DUI conviction before the jury trial began. Following the jury’s verdict, the court found true two enhancements alleging prior DUI convictions within the past 10 years, and found the defendant in violation of his prior grant of probation.
The defendant has suffered three prior DUI convictions in 2005, 2010, and 2014, and was on probation for DUI at the time of this offense. Two of the defendant’s three priors involved collisions and two also involved blood alcohol levels well in excess of 0.15%. Citing the defendant’s concerning criminal history demonstrating an “unremitting alcohol addiction” that continually placed the public in danger, the defendant’s complete lack of remorse and attitude of defiance toward past court orders, and the shocking circumstances of the current case, Judge Gallagher told the defendant that he had “crossed a line” that society does not look lightly upon as he handed down the maximum sentence allowed by law.
Following an afternoon of drinking at a local bar, the defendant got behind the wheel of his vehicle, despite having a suspended license and probation terms prohibiting the consumption of alcohol. As the defendant was headed westbound on Parkview Avenue, he nearly struck a pedestrian who was in the process of crossing Parkview Avenue northbound in a marked crosswalk. The pedestrian yelled out to the defendant in anger over the near collision. At that point, the defendant sped forward, made an illegal U-turn striking the south curb of the roadway, and then drove his vehicle eastbound into the westbound lanes of traffic in an attempt to intentionally strike the pedestrian who was finishing his trek across the roadway.
The victim was able to jump out of the way, claiming the defendant’s vehicle merely “nicked” his knee. The defendant then proceeded out of his vehicle, wielding his cane in the air, and chased after the victim and several witnesses, prompting numerous 9-1-1 calls. Several officers from the Redding Police Department responded and, following an investigation, arrested the defendant, who was found to have a blood-alcohol content of 0.14%.
The case was investigated by Officer Peggy Porter, Officer Jamie Rouland and Officer Jeff Schmidt of the Redding Police Department and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Laura Smith from the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office.
This case was prosecuted under a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.