Newport Beach : Driver Pleads Innocent to Manslaughter Charge

Kent Gordon Hindes, who allegedly drove into the path of a rapidly moving Newport Beach police car in an October accident that killed a passenger in the vehicle Hindes was driving, pleaded not guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter charges Monday.

Hindes, 32, of Costa Mesa also entered not guilty pleas on drunk driving charges, posted $10,000 bail and was ordered to return for a preliminary hearing in Harbor Municipal Court on Jan. 5. Judge Brian R. Carter revoked Hindes’ driver’s license and ordered him not to drive until the case is over.

A report prepared by the California Highway Patrol’s special accident investigation team indicated that Hindes had a blood-alcohol content of .27% when a police car driven by Joseph Thrasher, 32, crashed into the side of his car on Balboa Boulevard on Oct. 2. Jake S. Finney, 39, Hindes’ business partner and a passenger in the car Hindes was driving, was killed in the crash.

The CHP report also indicated that Thrasher was traveling between 46 and 54 m.p.h. in a 25-m.p.h zone when the crash occurred. Thrasher was allegedly attempting to catch up to a speeding car when Hindes turned in front of him.

Hindes was “driving without any lights,” according to the report. But Theodore S. Wentworth, an attorney representing Finney’s widow, Vickie, disputes that finding.

He said Monday that the 1986 Buick Hindes was driving that night was owned by Finney and has a headlight system that turns on automatically at night. “The lights definitely were on,” he said.

Mrs. Finney has filed an $11-million claim against the City of Newport Beach.