One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
OC Man Accused of Killing Nephew in Drunk Driving Accident Faces Arraignment
Photo by Adrian Miles © via Flickr
A man who allegedly drove drunk and killed his nephew is expected to be arraigned on murder charges today, reports the OC Register. Tapu Aniceto Sitagata, 27, was drinking at the Newport Five Cocktail Lounge in Tustin on the night of Dec. 20, 2010. He became so intoxicated that both a bartender and a police officer separately offered to call him a cab, but he refused. After reportedly waiting until the officer was nowhere in sight, Sitagata got behind the wheel of a Chevy Suburban with 20-year-old Pesa Sitagata in the backseat and his brother-in-law, 34-year-old Aron Ia, in the passenger seat, and promptly crashed his car into a tree.
Ia suffered multiple injuries, including broken legs and ribs, and a lacerated spleen and liver. The younger Sitagata died at the scene.
The elder Sitagata attempted to flee the scene but didn't get far.
If Sitagata is convicted, he faces 20 years and eight months to life in prison.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
