Man Whose DUI Sentence Was Postponed Is Charged in Fatal Crash

A man who had been given two months to put his affairs in order before going to jail for his fourth drunken driving conviction got into an accident while allegedly drunk, killing a 5-year-old boy.

Manuel Castillo, 39, is charged with murder and driving on a suspended license in the crash Saturday that killed Manuel Saenz. He faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted.

The boy’s mother, Masako Saenz, 25, burst out, “Murderer! Murderer! You killed my son!” and had to be removed from Castillo’s arraignment Tuesday.

Castillo, an unemployed construction worker, was convicted of his fourth drunken driving offense in February. Judge John Cruikshank gave him until May 8 to settle his affairs and complete an alcohol abuse treatment program before his nearly eight-month term in jail.

Prosecutors said such arrangements are not uncommon for drunken drivers who were not aggressive and did not cause injuries. And Castillo’s alcohol abuse counselor, Fidencio Martinez, told the judge in a letter that Castillo had been attending his counseling sessions and had tested negative for alcohol.

“I would like to see that he be given the chance to prove himself,” the letter said. “I would like to ask the court’s permission to allow me to continue working with him.”

Experts, however, say such reprieves often have bad results.

“It’s just that a lot of people continue to drink and drive when they’re in between sentencing and jail,” said Dianne Gini of the San Joaquin chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.