In this week’s DA Weekly News, District Attorney Summer Stephan highlights a critical public safety issue as we head into the holiday season: the rise in fatal DUI cases across San Diego County. Together, we can prevent more lives from being lost.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that her office is receiving a $950,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the twelfth year in a row to prevent and prosecute DUI fatality cases. The grant award comes as the number of San Diego County fatal DUI cases remain on the rise.
In 2024, the DA’s office filed charges against 23 DUI drivers responsible for 28 deaths. So far this year, charges have been filed against 22 DUI drivers responsible for 23 deaths.
“This grant allows our office to continue funding a dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators focused on holding impaired drivers accountable and preventing future tragedies,” DA Stephan said. “Every year, we see far too many lives lost to DUI crashes. As the holiday season approaches, I urge everyone to make responsible choices. Use a rideshare, call a friend, and never let someone drive if they’ve been drinking or using drugs.”
When someone kills another person while DUI, they may be charged with vehicular manslaughter, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, or even second-degree murder, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years to life in prison. The number of second-degree murder cases involving DUI drivers filed by the DA’s office increased this year, in large part due to the number of repeat DUI offenders responsible for these fatalities. In 2025, the DA’s office filed second degree murder charges against 13 DUI drivers. By comparison, in 2024, the DA’s office filed second degree murder charges against only 5 DUI drivers.
The grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety will allow the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit to continue its critical work, including education and prevention efforts within the community. The specialized unit, which was launched in 2014, has prosecuted hundreds of cases and has received approximately $6 million in funding from the Office of Traffic Safety.
Funding will also be used to:
In 2024, the District Attorney’s Office filed 4,389 DUI cases, including 280 DUI drug cases. As of October 29, 2025, the DA’s Office has filed 9,405 DUI cases including 426 DUI drug cases this year. Many of these numbers are significant increases from years past.
Funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety is provided through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant program runs through September 2026.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that Deputy District Attorneys Mary Loeb and Natalie Garcia were each recognized as Prosecutor of the Year for their work in the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit. The honors were announced by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at the annual MADD San Diego Law Enforcement and Prosecutor Recognition Awards held June 5th at the Town and Country Resort.
“This recognition from MADD highlights the outstanding work of our prosecution team, specifically Mary Loeb and Natalie Garcia, whose expertise and commitment in serious and fatal DUI-related cases repeatedly delivers justice to victims and their families,” said DA Stephan. While the fatal consequences of alcohol-impaired driving are well known, we’re increasingly seeing drivers under the influence of drugs or a dangerous mix of both alcohol and drugs, with often tragic outcomes. These two prosecutors skillfully handle complex drug-DUI cases, helping jurors understand the often-hidden signs of drug impairment. I’m incredibly proud of them, and this award is a testament to their hard work and dedication.”
In 2024, 26 people were killed in 21 DUI-related crashes in San Diego County. So far in 2025, the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit has filed 11 new DUI homicide cases.
Recipients of MADD’s awards are chosen through a call for nominations process. The organization reaches out to community partners, law enforcement agencies, local officials and their internal victim advocates asking them to nominate individuals who stand out in the community with regards to DUI-related work.
Every year, MADD honors law enforcement officials for their continuous efforts in DUI-related enforcement. This year, the event recognized law enforcement with awards for the number of DUI arrests made annually. According to MADD, each arrest is a life saved and MADD awards law enforcement’s service as they dedicate their lives to keeping our roads safe.
Deputy DAs Mary Loeb and Natalie Garcia were nominated by Deputy DA Hailey Williams, the Director of the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit. In 2024, Loeb and Garcia successfully prosecuted Tayishe Baltys for killing 15-year-old Jessica Talamante and her 39-year-old stepfather Brian McKee. In 2022, Baltys drove drunk and fatally struck Jessica and Brian as they walked across East Plaza Boulevard in National City toward their home. Prior to the collision, Baltys spent three hours drinking alcohol with co-workers at a Dave & Buster’s restaurant in Mission Valley. Despite two separate bartenders asking Baltys if she planned to take an Uber or Lyft home, Baltys instead got behind the wheel of her car so intoxicated that she drove to National City, even though she resides in Mission Valley.
Although Baltys repeatedly denied drinking to the responding officers, her blood-alcohol content was approximately 0.16%, which is twice the legal driving limit. Just 19 days before the fatal collision, Baltys had completed DUI probation following a DUI arrest and conviction one year earlier. Deput DAs Mary Loeb and Natalie Garcia’s skilled presentation of the facts of their case and cross-examination of defense witnesses secured justice for the deaths of Jessica and Brian. In December 2024, a Chula Vista jury returned guilty verdicts against Baltys for their murders.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that Brandon Janik, 38, was sentenced on January 24 to 15 years-to-life in state prison for driving under the influence, running a red light and killing 47-year-old Joshua Gilliland who was walking to work. Superior Court Judge Laura Parsky sentenced Janik to an additional seven years in prison to be served consecutively for committing insurance fraud and hit and run with death. The DA also confirmed today that 26 people were killed in DUI-related crashes last year.
“This was a tragic crime that took the life of a beloved community member. If you drive drunk, hit someone, and flee the scene, you’re committing a serious felony that carries serious penalties, including life in prison,” said DA Stephan. “Trying to cover it up with insurance fraud only adds to your charges, increasing the likelihood of getting caught and facing even steeper consequences. Law enforcement, forensic experts, and insurance investigators are highly skilled at uncovering these crimes—so do the right thing before you ruin lives, including your own.”
On November 7, 2024, after a nine-day trial, a jury found Brandon Janik guilty of all seven counts, including second degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit and run with death, and four insurance fraud charges.
On June 10, 2023, Janik, who had a prior DUI conviction in 2016, ran a red light and killed Gilliland, a well-liked bartender in University Heights. Surveillance footage showed Gilliland lawfully crossing the street at the intersection of Normal Street and El Cajon Boulevard when Janik sped through the intersection against the red light, struck Gilliland, and then fled the scene without calling 911.
The San Diego Police Traffic Division later connected the hit and run to an incident approximately 10 minutes earlier, when a passersby located Janik asleep in the driver’s seat of a car in the middle of the roadway. The person removed Janik, who was visibly intoxicated, from the driver’s seat and called 911. As they waited for paramedics to arrive, Janik thanked them and said, “I already have a DUI.” Once paramedics arrived on scene, Janik admitted he had been drinking, but claimed he would leave the vehicle parked and use a rideshare. Janik refused transportation to the hospital for medical treatment and paramedics cleared the scene.
Once the bystanders and paramedics left, Janik got back into his parked car and drove away, nearly striking another car as he sped off. The fatal collision took place only a minutes later and less than half a mile away.
The morning after the collision, the defendant read multiple news articles online about the crash. Janik proceeded to replace the vehicle’s smashed windshield using a mobile repair company. He later filed a false insurance claim with Esurance for additional damages to the passenger door and hood of the vehicle. Janik lied to support his false claim on three occasions and each time Janik denied anyone had been injured in the collision when directly asked. Janik’s primary concern was that his insurance premiums would go up.
At trial, Deputy District Attorneys Hailey Williams and Dana Dunlap presented evidence from 29 witnesses, including civilians, experts, police detectives, and Esurance employees. They introduced more than 100 exhibits, including surveillance video of the collision, Janik’s bar receipts prior to the collision, cell phone evidence, and recorded insurance phone calls. The jury deliberated for only a few hours before returning a guilty verdict on all counts.
Data shows that the number of young drivers involved in fatal DUI-related crashes has increased this past year. Prosecutors say that more than half of the individuals charged with DUI homicide offenses in 2024 were between the age of 18 and 26 at the time of the collision.
Insurance fraud, including auto insurance fraud, costs U.S. consumers an estimated$80 to $90 billion per year. In California, it’s a $15 billion-a-year problem. It’s the second-largest economic crime in America, exceeded only by tax evasion. The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office combats this problem by using experienced specialists to confront the insurance fraud epidemic.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that her office is receiving an $899,425 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the eleventh year in a row to prevent and prosecute impaired driving deaths and DUI-drug cases. The grant award comes as San Diego County fatal DUI numbers remain at an all-time high.
In 2023, 32 people were killed in 29 DUI-related crashes. So far in 2024, there have been 25 people killed in 20 DUI-related crashes.
“I am grateful our office has continued to receive this grant that allows our specialized team of prosecutors and investigators to hold offenders accountable and work to deter impaired driving,” DA Stephan said. “Every year we have an unacceptable amount of fatal DUIs. As the holiday season approaches, people need to make responsible choices, use ride sharing services and keep their friends and family from getting behind the wheel if they are impaired.”
Data shows that the number of young drivers involved in fatal DUI-related crashes has increased this past year. Prosecutors say that more than half of the individuals charged with DUI homicide offenses in 2024 were between the age of 18 and 26 at the time of the collision.
The grant will allow the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit to continue its critical work, including education and prevention efforts within the community. The unit, which launched in 2014, streamlines complex DUI cases by creating expertise within the DA’s Office. The specialized unit creates uniformity in sentencing among the four adult courthouses. In addition, the unit helps law enforcement adapt to changes in technology by having a designated DA Investigator who is trained in the latest techniques in collision reconstruction. Since its inception, the unit has prosecuted nearly 250 cases and they have received more than $5 million in funding from the Office of Traffic Safety.
Funding will also be used to:
In 2023, the District Attorney’s Office filed 3,916 DUI cases, including 234 DUI drug cases. As of September 30, 2024, the DA’s Office has filed 4,389 DUI cases including 280 DUI drug cases this year. Many of these numbers are significant increases from years past.
Funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety is provided through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant program runs through September 2025.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said that Erik Arambula, 25, who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and causing the death of a mother and her 4-year-old daughter, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison.
Arambula pleaded guilty on October 8, to driving under the influence of drugs and two counts of evading an officer causing death.
“This defendant, who could have prevented the tragic outcome of this case, willingly drove under the influence of drugs and took the lives of an innocent mother and daughter,” DA Stephan said. “These types of deaths are the most preventable, yet people think they can get away with this dangerous behavior. The tragic lesson here is simple: do not drink or consume drugs and get behind the wheel.”
In April 2023, Arambula, driving a pickup truck, ran a red light on Old Highway 395 in Fallbrook, leading law enforcement to initiate a traffic stop. Instead of yielding to the officer’s vehicle, Arambula accelerated to approximately 100 miles-per-hour then drove through a chain-link fence, careened down an embankment, and landed on the southbound lanes of Interstate 15 heading in the wrong direction. Arambula crashed head-on with the 29-year-old victim and her daughter before colliding with and injuring the occupants of a third vehicle.
In 2023, 32 people were killed in 29 DUI-related crashes in San Diego County. This year, 20 people have been killed so far in 16 DUI-related crashes.
According to M.A.D.D., which partners with the District Attorney’s Office on public awareness, every 78 seconds someone is killed or injured by an impaired driving crash.
Deputy District Attorney David Uyar prosecuted this case.
This 2024 Citizen of Courage witnessed a fatal hit-and-run incident that took the life of a 19-month-old toddler. If you’ve ever witnessed a hit and run, you know that sometimes it can leave bystanders in shock and paralyzed. Not Antonio Jasso. He had the courage to act fast and at his own peril, he carefully followed the driver and even got him on camera to make sure the driver was held accountable. It’s very possible that police may never have located the driver, whose criminal and reckless actions were so devastating to the victim’s family and the community. But Antonio’s decision allowed police to quickly identify and arrest the DUI driver who caused so much pain. Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams prosecuted this case. Watch his story in the video.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a defendant who drove drunk, struck and killed a 1-year-old child has been sentenced to 15 years-to-life in prison plus an additional four years in prison for fleeing the scene. Margarito Angeles Vargas, 47, was driving with a blood-alcohol level of more than double the legal limit on September 24, 2022, when he fatally struck the young girl as she crossed a residential street with her sisters and grandparents. A jury convicted Angeles Vargas on November 15, of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury, hit and run causing death, and driving on a suspended license. Judge Amador handed down the sentence in San Diego Superior Court.
On the day of the incident, the defendant was leaving a baby shower when he ran a stop sign and nearly struck a parked truck before barreling down the 3900 block of Redwood Street in City Heights. He struck the victim in broad daylight as her family was walking in an unmarked crosswalk.
Although residential surveillance captured the collision, none of the cameras clearly captured the driver’s face or his license plate. A witness chased after the defendant and confronted him. Eventually, the license plate information and cell phone video taken by the witness helped police locate the defendant and arrest him.
“DUI and drugged drivers have taken so many innocent lives this year and while every loss is devastating, the senseless DUI murder of a 1-year-old child is beyond deplorable,” DA Summer Stephan said. “It is also unconscionable that the driver fled the scene, but thanks to the courage and concern of the good Samaritan neighbor who witnessed the crime and recorded the driver and the license plate and provided the information to police, the defendant was brought to justice. Our specialized DUI homicide team worked with San Diego Police Department investigators to present the case to a jury in order to pursue justice. Let this be a warning that drinking and driving can not only take a life but can end with a life prison sentence.”
Because Angeles Vargas had been convicted of a DUI charge previously, he signed a form known as a Watson advisement. The purpose of the Watson advisement is to create a legal record that a defendant is aware of the dangers that DUI poses not only to oneself, but to others. If a person is involved in another DUI in the future, and that DUI leads to an accident that injures or kills someone, they cannot claim that they didn’t understand the consequences. Legally, this means that a defendant can be tried for second-degree murder in a circumstance like this case.
Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams prosecuted this case.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that her office is receiving an $810,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the tenth year in a row to prevent and prosecute impaired driving deaths and DUI-drug cases. The grant award comes as San Diego County fatal DUI numbers remain at an all-time high.
In 2022, 33 people were killed in 32 DUI-related crashes. So far in 2023, there have been 25 people killed.
“We have a specialized team of prosecutors and investigators who hold offenders accountable and work to deter impaired driving,” DA Stephan said. “The increase over the last few years of people in our community dying at the hands of impaired drivers is disturbing. As the holiday season approaches, people need to make responsible choices, use ride sharing services and keep their friends and family from getting behind the wheel if they are impaired.”
Data shows average blood-alcohol levels of drivers involved in Driving Under the Influence cases remain high at over .18%. Prosecutors say that more than half of individuals being arrested for driving under the influence have both alcohol and drugs in their system—a deadly combination.
The grant will allow the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit to continue its critical work. The unit, which launched in 2014, streamlines complex DUI cases by creating expertise within the DA’s Office. The specialized unit creates uniformity in sentencing among the four adult courthouses. In addition, the unit helps law enforcement adapt to changes in technology by having a designated DA Investigator who is trained in the latest techniques in collision reconstruction. Since its inception, the unit has prosecuted nearly 225 cases and they have received more than $4.5 million in funding from the Office of Traffic Safety.
Funding will also be used to:
In 2022, the District Attorney’s Office filed 5,682 DUI cases, including 370 DUI drug cases and 151 DUI cases in which both alcohol and drugs were present in the driver’s system. So far this year, the DA’s Office has filed 4,635 DUI cases including 253 DUI drug cases and 219 combined alcohol and drug impairment cases. Many of these numbers are significant increases from years past.
Funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety is provided through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that defendant Maricela Diaz, 24, was sentenced to six years in prison for gross vehicular manslaughter in connection with a 2022 crash that killed El Cajon resident Roberto Mendez Sanchez, 49.
Diaz, who was 23 at the time of the crash, had a measurable blood-alcohol content of about 0.24% after the crash, which is three times the legal limit for driving. Although Diaz was sentenced to six years, prosecutors argued for the maximum sentence under the law, which is 10 years in prison.
“It is heartbreaking that yet another precious life is lost to a completely preventable crime,” DA Summer Stephan said. “The power to end these senseless losses of life is in every driver’s hands. If you plan on drinking, have a designated driver, take a cab, or use a rideshare service. Simply do not get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and know that if you do, you will be held accountable.”
On June 6, Diaz pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI with injury.
Deputy District Attorney Laura Evans prosecuted this case.