Felon Gets 28 Years To Life For DUI Crash That Left Girl In Wheelchair

SANTA ANA, CA — A 38-year-old felon was sentenced Friday to 28 years to life in prison for an alcohol-fueled hit-and-run collision in Santa Ana that left an 11-year-old girl with a broken hip and dependent on a wheelchair.

Robert Romero Escobedo was convicted Feb. 16 of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08% or more causing injury, and failing to stop at a hit-and-run with injury, all felonies, as well as driving on a suspended license and concealing evidence, both misdemeanors. Jurors also found true sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily on the victims.

Deputy District Attorney Andrea Schug argued for 36 years and four months to life, the maximum, in court papers.

"The conduct in this case can only be described as egregious," Schug wrote. "His criminal history shows a pattern of violence and a disregard for the safety of our community."

The collision happened about 12:40 p.m. Sept. 21, 2021, at Fairview Street and Borchard Avenue, police said during the defendant's preliminary hearing.

A witness told police Escobedo was tailgating and speeding and swerved into oncoming traffic in what appeared to be a road-rage incident, according to testimony at the preliminary hearing.

After his Chevrolet Malibu crashed into a Jeep SUV, he ran away and hurled a 40-ounce beer bottle over a cinder-block fence, police said.

A woman behind the wheel of the SUV had her 11-year-old and year-old daughters in the vehicle, police testified. She suffered a broken foot and her 11-year-old daughter sustained a broken hip and leg and was bedridden and unable to walk for three months.

Schug said in court papers that the girl was told at one point she would never walk again and is dependent on a wheelchair. She has not been able to return to school since the collision, the prosecutor said.

"There is not a single mitigating factor relating to the crimes committed in this case," Schug said.
Escobedo was convicted in September 2013 of attempted robbery, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and theft with a prior conviction, all felonies. He was also convicted of misdemeanor resisting arrest.

In that case Escobedo stole a beer from a gas station and tried to take a bystander's bike as he fled, Schug said. He also pretended he had a gun and threw a bottle at a Good Samaritan who tried to stop him and challenged a police officer to a fight while taking a swing at him, the prosecutor said.

Escobedo was convicted in August 2006 of robbery and driving under the influence of alcohol in April 2020, according to court records.