Scott Brandon Bales, 49, of Moreno Valley admitted the murder counts, as well as two counts of DUI resulting in great bodily injury, under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. No charges were dismissed.

During a hearing at the Banning Justice Center Thursday, Superior Court Judge Rene Navarro certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.

Bales killed sheriff’s Corporal Daniel Jacks Jr., 45, and his daughter, Hannah Jacks, both of San Jacinto.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the collision happened just after 9 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2022, along Gilman Springs Road, east of Bridge Street.

CHP Officer Jason Montez said at the time that Bales was at the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado with a front-seat passenger going westbound on Gilman Springs when Jacks’ Honda Insight approached from the opposite direction on the two-lane corridor, where there is no barrier forming a center median, only double yellow lines.

Montez said that Bales’ pickup “crossed over the divided highway and traveled into the eastbound traffic lane.”

The Chevy slammed head-on into the Honda, after which both vehicles came to a stop in lanes, according to the CHP spokesman.

Paramedics arrived a short time later and pronounced Jacks and his daughter dead at the scene.

Bales and his passenger, identified by the CHP only as a 45-year-old Moreno Valley man, were taken to the county medical center in Moreno Valley for treatment of major injuries. Both ultimately recovered.

“Bales was determined to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage at the time of the crash,” Montez said.

Court records show the defendant had three prior DUI convictions — in 2009, 2011 and 2015. The last one was a felony conviction.

Under California law, a convicted DUI offender who is aware of the risks of drinking and driving and who causes someone’s death because of it can be charged with murder.

Jacks was a 14-year sheriff’s department veteran, spending most of that time as a correctional deputy, staffing the Indio Jail, later designated the John J. Benoit Detention Center.

The post DUI Driver Admits To Killing Father, Daughter In Riverside County Crash appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

This story has been updated with additional details.

A Riverside County sheriff’s deputy was killed on Wednesday in a collision involving his patrol motorcycle and a sedan stopped in traffic on the 91 Freeway.

Deputy Timothy Corlew was fatally injured about 5:35 a.m. on the westbound 91 at La Sierra Avenue in Riverside, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP Inland Empire Division spokesman Officer Dan Olivas said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon that Corlew was traveling in the HOV lane at an unconfirmed speed when he encountered “traffic ahead … stopped across all lanes.”

“For reasons still under investigation, the deputy collided with the rear of a Toyota (Lexus), and he was ejected from his motorcycle onto a Hyundai sedan,” Olivas said.

Riverside Fire Department paramedics reached the location within minutes and attempted life-saving measures, after which Corlew was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead moments later, according to Olivas.

He said the Lexus driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to the same hospital for treatment. The occupant of the Hyundai was not hurt.

The CHP’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team is continuing to piece together the details of what happened.

The agency’s Riverside office spokesman, Officer Javier Navarro, told City News Service earlier that it was “unlikely any criminal charges will be coming out of this down the road, based on what we know right now.”

Sheriff Chad Bianco posted a brief statement via social media, saying “with immense sadness and a heavy heart, I must report the sheriff’s office has lost another deputy in a line-of-duty death.”

He added that Corlew was attached to the sheriff’s Jurupa Valley Station. However, no details were released Wednesday regarding the fallen deputy’s length of service, or other background information.

Sheriff Chad Bianco posted a brief statement via social media, saying “with immense sadness and a heavy heart, I must report the sheriff’s office has lost another deputy in a line-of-duty death.”

He added that Corlew was attached to the sheriff’s Jurupa Valley Station. However, no details were released Wednesday regarding the fallen deputy’s length of service, or other background information.

The post Riverside County motorcycle deputy killed in collision on freeway appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.