A 21-year-old Orange County woman convicted of second-degree murder is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Brittany Deanne Schuetz was convicted by jury of one felony count of second-degree murder and could face a maximum of 15 years to life in prison for the offense. Her charges stem from a fatal accident she caused while driving under the influence of alcohol. At the time of the accident, her blood alcohol concentration was .24, nearly five times the legal limit for a person under the age of 21. The California Vehicle Code states it is illegal for any driver under the age of 21 to drive with a BAC higher than .01.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Imperial Highway in La Habra. The victim, April Whang, was driving her Acura Integra through a green light at the intersection when Schuetz ran the red light and plowed into the side of her car. During the trial, Schuetz confessed that she had consumed vodka and several other drinks prior to the accident. According to the prosecutor, Schuetz refused rides home from her friends, instead choosing to drive home herself.

This is not Schuetz’s first DUI arrest. She was convicted of drunk driving in 2007.

Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 30.

If you or a loved one has been charged with murder or vehicular manslaughter for causing a fatal DUI accident, it’s imperative that you speak with an experienced  Orange County DUI defense attorney at the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry right away. As you can imagine you are in a very precarious situation, and should you be convicted of the charges you could find yourself spending years in jail or prison. In Schuetz’s cases, not only did she kill someone, but she was also underage at the time of the accident and she had a prior DUI conviction on her record, two factors that would enhance any DUI charge.

Whether you have been charged with a simple DUI or you are facing much more serious crime, such as vehicular manslaughter, you can trust the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry to work diligently in fighting your charges and building the strongest possible defense.

Call (877) DUI-QUEEN to schedule a consultation with an experienced attorney at the office today!