Doctor Pleads Not Guilty to Murder, Drunk Driving in Fatal Accident
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SANTA ANA — A Laguna Beach doctor pleaded not guilty Friday to two charges of murder for allegedly swerving his car into the path of a minivan, killing a Mission Viejo couple.
Ronald Joseph Allen Jr., 31, also entered a not guilty plea to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and causing injury in connection with the critical injuries that the couple’s 11-year-old daughter suffered in the July 11 crash.
Allen, who was described by his defense attorney as being remorseful and distraught because of “the horrendous hurt he has caused,” remains in Orange County Jail with no bail.
Prosecutors added the felony charge of driving under the influence and upgraded earlier charges of manslaughter against Allen after concluding that he had been acutely aware of the hazards of driving while impaired.
Deputy Public Defender Michael Giannini said after the arraignment in Orange County Superior Court that the murder charges are unwarranted. “This man was not aware at the time of driving that he was presenting a specific danger to people in the road,” he said.
Allen, an internist, had prior arrests for driving under the influence.
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