Mickey Oden, 40, of Llano was sentenced in a Lancaster courtroom on Oct. 3, after pleading no contest on Sept. 19 to vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence and driving with a .08% blood alcohol content causing injury, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Esala, a U.S. Navy petty officer, had just married his longtime girlfriend, Amber, on Sept. 1 in Ashland, WI. He was on his way back to his base in Port Hueneme before starting a new assignment in Texas, according to media reports. Affectionately known as “Truck” to his fellow Seabees, Esala was “always willing to lend a hand to others, [and] he embodied the Seabee moto, ‘With compassion for others, we build, we fight for peace with freedom,'” according to Seabee Magazine.
Previous related story: Motorcyclist killed in Littlerock; driver arrested on suspicion of DUI
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David_Davis says
That drunk just killed a person and he gets four years? The DMV can never give him a license anywhere in this nation to protect the public. He needs to take the bus forever
Emily says
Nowhere else in America produces more drunk drivers, and otherwise avoidable traffic fatalities than, the sanctuary state of Mexifornia.
DUH Emily says
Emily, idiot honey, the driver was white.
Kiki says
Of course only 4
Tim Scott says
I always wonder at times like this where all these people calling for harsher penalties have been all my life. I don’t think I’ve personally known a single adult person, ever, who could honestly say they had never once been behind the wheel of a car after a few drinks. The only thing that kept every single person I’ve ever known from having a DUI, including me, is luck.
So when people are wanting pounds of flesh from some poor slob who just happened to draw the short straw it makes me curious.
Have some compassion says
This poor slob has a long history of felony drunk driving, and open cases. He killed another human being, and injured another, leaving family and friends heartbroken, their lives forever changed. Your flippant remark about him drawing the short straw is stunning.
Tim Scott says
So, are you going to claim that you’ve never been lucky to make it home when you had been drinking?
I don’t lack compassion and I am sorry for the family’s loss. But I like justice. It really strikes me wrong when people are getting in their cars drunk every day and as long as they get lucky they pay no penalty, but then those same people are howling for blood when someone commits the exact same crime, but happens to get in a wreck.
Are you saying that every drunk driver should be getting twenty years? I mean, they are obviously making the same bad decision and committing the same crime as the drunk driver that happens to kill someone. And what about the ones who don’t get caught, but we know have committed that crime as well? A parent? A sibling? A friend? Ourselves? Should we be turning all those people in? Not ratting someone out over a traffic fine is one thing, but if we start locking everyone who commits this crime up for twenty doesn’t that make it the kind of crime that everyone should be reporting?
K Hudgens says
Mr. Scott – I really pity you for not really comprehending what was done here. You probably grew up in the era of the California “snowflakes”. There is nothing or someone else can tell you because apparently, you already know it. Probably something your friends told you or from your own experience about driving home drunk or after just a “few” drinks. If you keep driving like that or your friends…it is just a matter of time before your caught…and I hope it is soon! I will keep my eye on the news and look for your name. This guy in the news took the life of a fellow military member riding his motorcycle home after recently marrying his girl. He lived an above average honorable life and served his country with distinction. Probably something you have never done either. So that is why you don’t value a life taken, no matter if it is out of negligence or mistake. You probably even know the DUI driver personally, seeing how you are so good at defending him in your comments.
I know says
I know, who cares about the life of another human being, as long as I get do what I want.
Nikolas says
Four, Years…?!?!?!
Are you FRIGGIN kidding me?!?!?!!?!?
Rego says
And back out in 18 months
Rego says
And some get life over 3 petty strikes
If anything prioritize reform
This sentence was far off from reality
James Anderson says
Got to reply, four years?? Even if he serves every day of his sentence it seems he lenient. He will of course carry the over whelming guilt his whole life, people say thights and prayer doesnt mean anything but I send them to his wife and family anyway.
VXS y says
Here’s a miscarriage of justice… 4 years!
Grog says
“A drunk driver has been sentenced to four years in prison…”
At least the general public won’t have to worry about Mickey drinking and driving for the next four years.
JustBill says
RIP petty officer Esala
Wife of Aaron Esala says
I go back to read these comments every now and again to remind myself that everyone has the right to their own opinion. I however have a very different opinion but it actually doesn’t matter because no Matter what I say or think or feel my husband is never coming home. Thank you to the ones who sent thoughts and prayers.
– wife