Pregnant woman pleads not guilty in deadly DUI crash
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A pregnant Clovis woman accused of driving drunk and killing a man on Highway 41 pleaded not guilty Tuesday.
Candice Ooley, 23, was charged with felony DUI and manslaughter. Her bail was set at a quarter of a million dollars.
Ooley wasn't at her arraignment in person, instead, her charges were read to her via video conference.
Madera County District Attorney, David Linn, said, "It appeared that she was very confused."
Ooley is between six to eight months pregnant and the gravity of the situation is starting to sink in.
She's accused of killing a man in a DUI crash on Highway 41, Friday night. Linn said her blood alcohol level was 0.32, which is four times the legal limit.
"Which indicates there's a significant problem she is having in controlling her drinking habits," said Linn.
Linn said she was also having relationship problems. He said, before the crash Ooley was in an argument with her boyfriend and she left her home in Clovis to see a family member in Coarsegold. On the way up, investigators believe Ooley fell asleep at the wheel and slammed into the back of a Hummer.
The impact forced the Hummer off the road and down an embankment. One passenger was killed, two other passengers and the driver were injured.
"Although she is an adult and about to have a baby, get involved in something like this-- she's looking at a great many years," said Linn.
She could be facing 15 years in prison for felony DUI and manslaughter. Linn said he wanted to file a murder charge because Ooley has a prior DUI case, but he couldn't because she wasn't convicted. Linn said she never showed up to court for it. Linn also said he also couldn't charge her with child endangerment because there is no California law that applies.
"We can only go for what the law provides, and if we don't have the charges to get more than 15 years, that's where we are."
Either way, Ooley said she's not guilty, but Linn said the case is stacked against her.
Linn said Ooley will be giving birth soon. He said the baby seems to be ok and it's being monitored, closely.
