In a extremely controversial choice, Snohomish County Superior Courtroom Decide Richard Okrent lowered the bail of Raul Benitez Santana, who’s accused of hitting and killing Washington State Trooper Christopher Gadd whereas driving underneath the affect in March. The decision angered neighborhood members, together with the sufferer’s household.
Santana is presently being held within the Snohomish County Jail, and is going through fees of vehicular assault and vehicular murder involving alcohol or medication. The choose lowered his bail from $1 million to $100,000:
For the reason that early morning crash on March 2, Raul Benitez Santana has been within the Snohomish County Jail going through fees of vehicular murder and vehicular assault. He allegedly consumed marijuana and beer earlier than driving on I-5 south close to Marysville, the place Gadd was parked on the shoulder.
Benitez Santana, 33, drove on the shoulder and crashed into Gadd’s patrol automotive, in line with the grievance. Gad (27) died on the spot. Information from Benitez Santana’s GMC Yukon Denali confirmed he was driving 112 miles per second earlier than the crash.
Based on courtroom paperwork filed final month, the defendant’s blood, sampled about 1½ hours after the crash, had a blood alcohol content material of 0.083, simply above the authorized restrict.
Gadd’s widow, Camryn, wrote a letter to the choose criticizing the choice, saying that lowering Santana’s bail “wouldn’t solely diminish the severity of the crime however trigger extra ache and struggling. [her, their child,] and the remainder [their] household.”
He additional argued that “[r]Releasing him on such low bail would set a harmful precedent and doubtlessly put others in danger.”
Santana was dwelling within the nation illegally:
An ICE official confirmed that Santana is a citizen of Mexico and was in america illegally after coming into the nation at an unknown date and time. ICE positioned Santana in an immigration detainer after his arrest.
The defendant had been dwelling in Washington illegally for no less than a decade:
To make issues worse, Santana had an extended and storied historical past of authorized troubles.
Benitez Santana entered america at an unknown time, however Seattle Enforcement and Elimination Operations first encountered him in 2013, when he was arrested for failing to look in courtroom on a cost of driving with a suspended license.
That very same 12 months, Benitez Santana was convicted of possession of marijuana and sentenced to 90 days in jail, however 87 days have been suspended.
He has a historical past of different convictions, together with a number of convictions for driving with a suspended license, a number of tickets for rushing greater than 49 mph over the pace restrict, and several other orders of safety for home violence.
Nonetheless, Santana’s attorneys requested the courtroom to launch their consumer from jail, insisting that he’s not at risk of committing one other crime or skipping courtroom hearings. The legal professional claims “her mother and father would welcome her into their residence,” and that Santana is “not a flight threat.”
