SAN FERNANDO – A judge on Wednesday rejected a man’s request to withdraw his no-contest plea to murder and other charges stemming from a 2013 wrong-way crash on the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway that left two people dead, including the pastor of a Lancaster church.
Bradford Pate, 40, faces 23 years to life in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 2.
Pate’s attorney argued that his client did not fully understand the terms of his July no-contest plea to two counts of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI.
Judge Lloyd Nash disagreed and rejected Pate’s request to withdraw the plea.
Pate has a May 2007 DUI conviction from Ventura County, according to the criminal complaint.
Authorities said Pate drove his 2006 Toyota truck south on the northbound lanes of the freeway near Escondido Canyon Road south of Palmdale before dawn June 22, 2013, striking a 2006 Chrysler being driven by the Rev. Manard Giles.
Giles, the 77-year-old pastor of The Answer Community Church of God in Christ in Lancaster, was killed in the crash. A passenger in Giles’ car, Mattie Lee Ferguson, 60, of Lancaster, died later, authorities said.
A second passenger was trapped in the minister’s vehicle until rescuers freed him, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
–
Previous related stories:
Family of Lancaster pastor killed in wrong-way crash files lawsuit
Wrong-way driver charged with murdering 2 local residents
Quartz Hill man killed, Lancaster man critically injured in wrong-way DUI crash
blab says
I kinda have some sympathy – people get drunk to have a good time, as do I, but some people can reach a level of being drunk that logic goes out the window.. so drunk that it seems ok to get in a car and drive… not realizing that you might kill someone… I have been there.. luckily I didn’t hurt anyone.
Truth is, anytime a person does drugs or alcohol there is a chance you might lose control of yourself and do something you would never do otherwise… DUI, murder, assault…. etc… prisons are FULL of people who committed their crime while under influence of something… so remember… don’t get high on something unless you can handle it…. because many people can’t… they just don’t realize it until its too late.
Danny says
You play you pay, don’t do the crime if you can’t do the tim, we are responsible for our own actions. We all know what the affects of drugs and alcohol do no excuses.
JJ says
I know Brad personally. He’s a very nice guy and talented musician who unfortunately has made some awful decisions with his life. He was already previously convicted of drunk driving and hurting people. Brad is a smart guy but he looses his mind when he drinks. This is actually an extremely tragic case for Brad and for the victims as well. I’m sure his incarceration will bring closure to his family, but I’ll tell you for certain that Brad did not mean to hurt anyone.
tina batres says
I know Brad too, I worked with him a few years back, he is a really nice ad kind Guy. I do believe he never meant to hurt anyone.
JR says
Brad was not previously convicted of drunk driving and hurting people, and while the comments are appreciated that Brad did not mean to hurt anyone, and are extremely true, nothing here reflects what actually happened that night/morning. Brad did NOT make a decision to get behind the wheel and drive, he actually made the opposite decision, and the rest was due to a medical condition that was never allowe to be proven in court. Amazing what can happen in the absence of facts.
GR says
Brad did have a prior DUI. Of course he didn’t mean to hurt anyone. Most people driving drunk don’t intend on killing anyone.
Ram says
So, I’m trying to look up what Brad looks like, and I fear I think I know who it is, I also knew him personally from almost ten years ago, he was one of my favorite coworkers, really nice, always helpful, sometimes [removed] things happen to good people. Not excusing what Brad might or might have not done, and unfortunately 3 people have lost their lives. Is there any more info on Brad? When you say musician, was he in a ska band, crap, he crossed my mind the other day, and was trying to look him up to see if I could find him, and I just kept seeing these articles, but no picture.