People v. La Reyes CA2/1

Filed 7/11/25 P. v. La Reyes CA2/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

THE PEOPLE, B341972

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. GA114692) v.

PASTOR OQUELI LA REYES,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Rosa M. Fregoso, Judge. Affirmed. Law Offices of Matthew Cargal and Matthew Cargal for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Susan Sullivan Pithey, Assistant Attorney General, Stephanie C. Brenan and Stefanie Yee, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. ____________________________

Defendant Pastor Oqueli La Reyes appeals from the judgment after his conviction under Vehicle Code1 section 23153, subdivision (a) for driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage “concurrently” with committing any act forbidden by law, which proximately caused injury, and the accompanying true finding on the great bodily injury enhancement. Defendant’s sole argument on appeal is that the evidence was insufficient to prove he committed an illegal act—not yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. We conclude substantial evidence supports the conviction and affirm.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND Defendant was accused of striking pedestrian Leslie Stevenson with his truck while intoxicated. The following evidence was presented at trial. On June 11, 2023, at approximately 9:45 p.m., Genaro Serrano Hernandez was stopped at a red light at Fair Oaks Avenue and Tremont Street in Pasadena. The weather was drizzling. Asked if he had any visibility issues, Serrano Hernandez testified, “Not much.” Serrano Hernandez saw a red truck on Tremont Street starting to turn left onto Fair Oaks Avenue. He also saw two people crossing the avenue, one of whom was in a wheelchair. The people were in the path of the turning truck, and Serrano Hernandez realized the truck was not stopping. Serrano Hernandez estimated the truck was driving between three and five miles per hour.