Father, Son Face Conspiracy Charges

A judge has ordered a Laguna Niguel man and his father to stand trial on charges that they lied about which of them was driving a car that struck a teen-age bicyclist, killing him.

Judge Blair Barnette in South Orange County Municipal Court Tuesday ordered Gary Haw, 25, tried on felony charges of vehicular manslaughter, hit-and-run and conspiracy to obstruct justice, Deputy Dist. Atty. James P. Marion said Wednesday. Haw’s father, Ronald Haw, 49, of Culver City, was not involved in the accident, but he is accused of helping his son in the commission of a felony. Ronald Haw was ordered to stand trial on felony charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and being an accessory after the fact, Marion said.

Police said Jason Klein, 17, of Laguna Hills was killed Sept. 8, 1987, when he turned into the path of the 1986 Porche 911, which police estimated was traveling at 70 m.p.h. on Alicia Parkway near a shopping center in Laguna Hills. Jason was thrown 300 feet by the impact.

Gary Haw initially told the California Highway Patrol that he was a passenger in the car and that his father was driving at 45 m.p.h. when Jason rode in front of them.

Ronald Haw backed up his son’s account when he was questioned the day of the crash, the CHP said. The next day, however, a CHP officer called Ronald Haw and reminded him that giving false evidence to a peace officer is against the law. Later that day, the CHP said, the Haws called back and changed their story, admitting that Gary Haw had been driving his father’s car and that they had fabricated their account of the accident because the car was not insured for drivers under age 25.

According to the CHP, the hit-and-run charge stems from Gary Haw’s not identifying himself as the driver. Gary Haw also faces misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and giving false information to a peace officer, court officials said.

Arraignment has been set for Feb. 4 in Superior Court.