Camp Pendleton
A 20-year-old Camp Pendleton resident pleaded innocent Friday to involuntary vehicular manslaughter charges in the deaths of three children who were run down while walking along a road at the base.
Charles M. Smith, 20, who lives on the Marine Corps base with his parents, was ordered to return to court July 12 for setting of a trial date by U.S. Magistrate Edward Infante.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Larry Burns said Smith was driving in the San Onofre housing section of the base in a bicycle lane when he struck the children and the mother of two of them.
Killed were Charmane Ostregaard, 6; Jeremiah Ostregaard, 4, and Annabell Reyes, 6. Deborah Ostregaard, 24, was seriously injured.
The case is in federal court because it occurred on federal property. If convicted, Smith could serve a three-year prison term and be fined $3,000.
Smith is free on a $10,000 bond.
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