Drunk Driver Sentenced in Student’s Death

A Santa Clarita man convicted of manslaughter last month for a January drunken driving accident that claimed the life of a Saugus High School student has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

James Michael Bent, 30, who had two prior convictions for driving while intoxicated, had open beer bottles in his sports utility vehicle at the time of the accident, investigators said. He received the maximum sentence Tuesday from North Valley Superior Court Judge Meredith Taylor.

Saugus High School senior Lauren Blaire, 18, who played on the school softball team, was driving home about 1:45 a.m. Jan. 11 when a Toyota 4-Runner driven by Bent ran a red light and hit her car at the intersection of Bouquet Canyon and Plum Canyon roads.

An hour after the accident, Bent’s blood-alcohol level was measured at O.18%, more than twice the legal limit, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said.

Bent, who has been in custody since the accident, was convicted Sept. 17 of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. After waiving his right to a jury trial, Bent avoided the more serious charge of second-degree murder when Taylor found him guilty of manslaughter.