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Murder charge filed in Lancaster crash that killed motorcyclist

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The fatal crash occurred around 2 p.m. April 19 at the intersection of 90th Street East and Avenue K in Lancaster. (LUIS MEZA)
The fatal crash occurred around 2 p.m. April 19 at the intersection of 90th Street East and Avenue K in Lancaster. (LUIS MEZA)

LANCASTER – A 58-year-old man accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and crashing his pickup truck into a motorcycle, killing its rider, has been charged with murder.

Javier Guzman-Pena is charged with murdering 69-year-old Glenn Arnold Grimm of Lancaster. Guzman-Pena is also charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury and driving with a 0.08% blood alcohol content causing injury, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Glenn Arnold Grimm was a generous, kindhearted family man who was adored by all his friends and former colleagues, according to several online messages. (Picture shared on Facebook)
Glenn Arnold Grimm was a generous, kindhearted family man who was adored by all his friends and former colleagues, according to several online messages. (Picture shared on Facebook)

The charges stem from a crash that occurred around 2 p.m. April 19 at the intersection of 90th Street East and Avenue K in Lancaster.

Guzman-Pena was driving a 2007 Nissan Frontier pickup truck northbound on 90th Street East at approximately 55 mph when he rear-ended Grimm’s 2005 Harley-Davidson that was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection with Avenue K, according to the CHP.

Grimm was thrown from his bike onto the dirt shoulder and pronounced dead at the scene, according to CHP officials.

Guzman-Pena was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Charges were filed against Guzman-Pena on April 21, his 58th birthday, according to court records.

Guzman-Pena appeared in court on April 21, but he did not enter a plea. His arraignment was continued to May 6.

Guzman-Pena remains jailed on $1 million bail.

Editor’s note: A California Highway Patrol report named the suspect as Javier Gomez-Pena, however, the suspect was charged as Javier Guzman-Pena.

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Previous related story: Motorcyclist killed in Lancaster crash, driver arrested for DUI

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

46 comments for "Murder charge filed in Lancaster crash that killed motorcyclist"

  1. Come on folks it’s 2015 and everybody in America knows flat out that you don’t drink and drive. If you get busted you can only blame yourself. People are fed up with drunk drivers! Just how many lives and tears need to be shed, how many families have to suffer because you need to get drunk? Are you willing to sacrifice your loved one for some stupid SOB to smash them to death so you can drive drunk without consequences? Gee guy, don’t get so riled up about me smashing your boy to death, I was drunk, I’ll send flowers for his funeral, OK?

  2. I was fortunate enough to be a neighbor and friend of Glenn and his family. I can honestly say that they are all the best, and most kind, people I have ever known. Whenever Glenn or any of the family saw a need for help, they were always there ready and eager to lend a hand without having to be asked. They all truly enjoy helping others. I am heartbroken that this wonderful man was taken from his family in such a senseless and tragic way. He didn’t deserve that and his family doesn’t deserve to have to deal with this horror in addition to the grief of his loss.
    Glenn, my life is better for having known you. I’ll remember your goodness for the rest of my life. You’ve left the world a great legacy in the family you left behind. Be at peace now.

    • Did you by any chance see his phone out there. It has not been found yet. If you recall seeing it, you you please get hold of our family

  4. It all comes down to the liberal thinking, he did not mean to, give him a break, he did not think he was drunk, the alcohol did it, B>S> He choose to drink and drive and probably was drinking because of his Birthday was on Tuesday. I made the mistake to drink and drive, got a DUI, paid the price and now he will…

  5. Everyone here keeps arguing about the charges given to the murderer, let’s keep in mind that a person’s life was taken and have some respect. RIP fellow rider.

  6. I personally knew Glenn Grimm and I can say without reservation that Glen was a decent good natured man who worked hard and raised a good family, he was fortunate to have a good and loving wife who stood by his side through thick and thin to raise their two sons, who went on to be fine men who found their life loves and have families of there own. That to me is the essence of a man, lead a good life, passing away doing what you love and leaving behind family and friends who will forever remember you. Rest in Peace my friend.

  7. My daughter ran out of gas on the freeway. Last year and a drunk driver ran into her and killed her they should call that premeditated murder

  8. SPEAKING AS A FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS VEHICLE MANSLAUGHTER THE CHARGES ARE WOBBLERS THE MAN HAS NO PRIOR DUI AND WAS NOT PREMEDITATED WHI KNOWS IF THE BIKERS WAS ON DRUGS TOO, THE GOOD THING IS THAT HES ON BAIL AND PROBABLY FLEE TO MEXICO.

    • a former d.a sure! why would he flee to mexico now if he wanted to leave he would of left before the police arrived don’t you think former d.a.?

    • First off, stop shouting. We get it – you’re a former DA (former being the best part of that moniker) but it doesn’t give you the right to sully Glenn’s name and suggest that he may have been on drugs. He was a good and decent man that did not participate in that activity. In addition, whether it’s Glenn or any other person, he was stopped at the stop sign the way he was supposed to be – following the law. The same cannot be said for the accused.

  9. What’s I find scary is that many DUI’s are just trumped up low Blood Alcohol Content bullsh!t designed to puff up arrest statistics and bring in revenue by arresting people who are perfectly capable of driving. Once you get one of these B.S. DUI’s on your record the next thing you know you might me staring down a murder charge for getting into a car accident. America’s pathological obsession with punishment and revenge will backfire just like the war on drugs has.

    • John you are fullllllllll i mean fulllllll of sh”, if thats the case can i say im an illegal so i can get a new car. Come on be realistic when does the state give anything free stop acting dumb well just try. Don’t make a full of yourself.

  11. Driving while intoxicated should be prosecuted same as when some one is walking around with a weapon on his hand and trying to kill somebody.
    Any drunk driver that commits this type and f crimes should be charge with murder, because they know they have drink and willingly drive a vehicle knowing something bad could happen any minute.

    • I concur this needs to be murder you can argue the fact it’s not premeditated all you want but when you are drunk and get into a vehicle you are very much aware that you may end up taking someone’s life and that my friends is premeditated. So get out of here with your vehicular man slaughter… my brother in law was killed by his step dad that was driving drunk and his mom was paralyzed for like and the step dad got to walk free and he now still drinks and drives and mentally abuses my brother in laws mom and they are finally getting a divorce. So yup I’m 100 on the murder charge!

  12. THIS IS NOT MURDER ITS VEHICLE MANSLAUGHTER WHO THE HELL TRUNPS UP THESE BOGUS CHARGES?

    • Murder charges are the newest way the “land of the free” intends on maintaining it’s world class level of incarceration.

    • It is murder. He voluntarily drove drunk. He made that choice. No more excuses for people doing the wrong thing. He broke the law so he should pay the price. He is still alive unlike his victim.

      • LADY LIBERTY HOW DO U KNOW HE VOLUNTARILY DROVE DRUNK? DID HE TELL YOU? OR A JUST JUST TALKING OUT OF YOUR ASS?

        • @ Mr. Liberty… “How do you know he voluntarily drove drunk?”???!!! Did someone have a gun to his head???
          He chose to drink, he chose to drive, he killed a man… end of (sad) story. My heart goes out to the deceased and his family and friends. My the drunk idiot rot in jail.

        • So, I guess someone forced him to get behind the wheel? Forced him to drive drunk? Forced him to run over Glen? Murder is the remediation which might be proven “if” past DUI’s and the fact that he knew his action would/could lead to death or serious injury.

          • Thank you for stating the obvious. I don’t think any of you who are against these charges would feel that way if you lost your family member as we did. I am sure that to those of you who know Mr Pena would say that he is a very nice, honest man. He may be. Turn the tables for a moment and think how you would feel if it were him that is no longer with you. I have to point out that my Uncle never would have been under the influence of anything. Non drinker, smoker or any type of drugs, even over the counter. He was a great family man who loved the open road. Even went out and bought a very bright yellow bike so people could see him better. Don’t forget he was mowed down in the intersection at 55 mph with not even an attempt at hitting the breaks. My Mother would have loved to be able to hold her little brothers hand one more time, but guess what folks, that is not possible and I am sure you can guess why. So, please stop the rude B S on this site, it really does hurt those of us who are grieving.

        • I am pretty sure nobody forced him to drive drunk. He chose to drive while intoxicated, hence voluntarily.

          • When you are totally drunk, you don’t have the capacity to “choose” to drive, or to know that you’re doing something wrong. It’s an ACCIDENT people!

          • It is a good argument, your so drunk and choose to drive is murder but your so drunk that you cannot choose wether you wanted sex or not so it is rape…. Impairment can not be used how it wants to be!

        • Then it’s likely Mr. Guzman-Pena is a repeat offender. The prosecutor is probably familiar with the guidelines for a Watson Murder.

        • Notice the blog/lawyer site this article was pulled from says it is mostly used for people with previous DUIs. It can apply to people without prices with the right set of facts meeting the legal criteria. Those cases are just harder to convince a jury to convict on because the get the option in the jury instructions that is called voluntary manslaughter they can choose over murder after THEY, the JURY, decide the facts which include intent. If you google for case law, that will be more accurate than the website this explanation was pulled from, although this is one of the most reputable site for law information over others and in general you are right in how it usually works.

          • Do not know where the word prices came from. I meant priors. Maybe it should have coffee before posting at 6 am. Sorry about that

    • bogus charges? The only thing “bogus” about that statement is that you are stupid enough to think something like that

    • You think this should be manslaughter? He ran Glenn over like a dog. He murdered him just like if he shot him. He killed a good man who would do anything to help anyone. Glenn Grimm, remember he has a family who loves & needed him.

    • Manslaughter still means murder charge. It is just a differet class, someone still died they are still being charged for the death, and it is still a felony. Only difference is the degree of sentencing. News reports hardly ever say murder 1,2, or manslaughter. Stop trying to sound all smart, and undestand the reporter kept it simple for the adverage reading comprehension in the AV.

  13. Biking comes with an organ donor card . Motorcycling is cool and all,but expect to get in an accident at some point.

    • That is uncalled for!!! I have a family of bikers and would love to see you sit in a room with them and say that. Drive a car and it is the same thing anyway. Keep your rude comments to yourself and pay this man some respect.

  14. Great!
    Let this be an ecample to all those drunk drivers out there!
    Poor man obey ing the law, stopped at a red light and look what happens because another POS decided to drink and drive.
    I was rearended once when I was stopped at a red light, my wife six months pregnant, the scaries thing ever happened to me, thanks God my baby was ok.
    RIP to that man and the drunkdriver may he spend the rest of his life behind bars.

    • I lived in the AV for 25 years. I just recently moved my family out of State. Reading these comments is so sad to me. A man lost his life due to another person’s stupidly. All the other dumb comments just go to show what a true sh*t hole the AV has become. My heart goes out to this guts family.