Driver sentenced in woman’s death

Jackson Bell

A Sylmar man who pleaded no contest last month to running over and

killing a Burbank woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison Monday.

Cameron Duty, 24, received 10 years for gross vehicular

manslaughter while intoxicated in connection with the death of Anna

White. In addition, Duty received five years for hit and run and

three years for causing great bodily injury.

Duty was charged with the Sept. 9, 2002, death of White, 21, when

he backed his Ford F-150 truck onto a sidewalk and into a crowd of

Justin Timberlake fans standing outside KIIS-FM’s (102.7) studio near

Avon Street and Warner Boulevard. Duty entered his plea before a

trial was set to begin in Pasadena Superior Court.

White, who was pinned under the trunk and dragged 200 feet as Duty

drove away, was pronounced dead at St. Joseph Medical Center. Burbank

Police arrested Duty a few hundred feet from the incident.

“This is a horrific accident that happened because he was out

there and drinking for 12 hours, and it’s something that could have

been prevented if he had not gotten into his car,” Deputy Dist. Atty.

Shelly Torrealba said.

Torrealba said the tone of the courtroom was somber.

“It was a very emotional sentencing,” she said. “Emotional for

[Duty’s] family and the family of the victim, and I think it was

difficult for them even though they concurred with the outcome.”

Barry Bernstein, Duty’s defense attorney, agreed.

“This is the type of case where everybody suffers,” Bernstein

said. “Cameron pleaded [no contest] to prevent the deceased girl’s

family the pain of going through the trial, but by doing so he caused

his family a lot of pain because they felt his sentence was too

severe.”

Duty must serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for

parole, Torrealba said.