SIMI VALLEY : Man Found Guilty in Driving Death

A repeat drunk driver pleaded no contest Thursday to vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and evading arrest in the death of a 54-year-old Simi Valley man.

After the plea, Ventura County Municipal Judge Steven Hintz found Michael Rodriguez, 39, guilty and set sentencing for May 26. Rodriguez, of Simi Valley, faces up to 10 years and eight months in prison.

Rodriguez hit several parked cars April 15 before slamming into Raphael Lachmiller, who was walking to his family’s house on Whitcomb Avenue.

Rodriguez is the third Ventura County person charged with vehicular manslaughter to plead guilty or no contest within weeks after causing a fatal accident.

Glen James Paton, 29, of Simi Valley pleaded guilty after causing a fiery Christmas-week crash that took the life of a 26-year-old Thousand Oaks woman. Paton, who was on probation for a prior drunk-driving conviction, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Manuel Garcia, 41, of Oxnard pleaded guilty three weeks after causing a Jan. 12 wreck in which a 24-year-old Ventura man died. Garcia, who had no prior convictions, was spared a prison sentence on the recommendation of the Ventura County district attorney’s office. He received a year in jail and five years probation.

Rodriguez was convicted of hit-and-run and driving under the influence in separate cases last year, prosecutors said. “I feel he should get the maximum,” said Tammy van der Valk, the victim’s sister.

Linda Finnerty of the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving said Rodriguez’s plea “saves the (victim’s) family from having to go through these emotional nightmares all over again.”