Lacey Strange—the 18-year-old woman facing a vehicular manslaughter charge in the death of a Lompoc woman—changed her “not guilty” plea to “no contest” on Dec. 15.
Strange’s attorney, Catherine Swynsen, entered the plea on the defendant’s behalf before Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Frank Ochoa, who is presiding over the case in Santa Barbara after three previous North County judges recused themselves, citing familiarity with the defendant’s father, Lompoc police Sgt. Chuck Strange.
Strange is accused of hitting 56-year-old Rebecca Vegas with her car as Vegas crossed the intersection of Ocean Avenue and J Street on May 13. Vegas later succumbed to her injuries.
“We have no ill will,” Vegas’ daughter-in-law Fina Vaca told the Sun in September. “We just really want justice and for the law to prevail on this.”
In August, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office filed a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter against Strange, contending the young woman killed Vegas “lawfully and without malice” when she failed to properly yield the right of way. Investigators had explored the possibility Strange may have been using her cell phone near the time of the accident. Strange pled not guilty on Oct. 25.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in county jail, up to five years of probation, and the possible suspension of driver’s license privileges for up to one year. Strange will be sentenced on Jan. 24.
This article appears in Dec 22-29, 2011.