No contest plea in Glendale pedestrian death

A man accused of striking and killing a 61-year-old Glendale doctor with his car pleaded no contest on Wednesday to a charge of intoxicated driving, officials said.

Edmond Grigoryan, 30, initially faced a more serious felony count of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and causing serious injuries, but that was reduced Wednesday to a misdemeanor DUI count, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court officials.

Grigoryan’s vehicle struck Jacob Orphali on Oct. 12 in the 1100 block of Western Avenue, according to Glendale police.

Orphali had just parked and was at his car’s open driver’s-side door on his way to a house call, police said.

Grigoryan was traveling north when police said he struck Orphali as he was standing next to his car.

After police evaluated Grigoryan, they arrested him on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

Two days later, Orphali died of his injuries in a local hospital.

Test results later confirmed Grigoryan was driving under the influence of drugs, according to police.

Calls to Orphali’s family attorney, Sarkis Ourfalian, were not immediately returned Thursday, nor were calls to Grigoryan’s attorney, Alex Kessel.

Grigoryan is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5.

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