Felon accused of killing Hemet women in DUI crash pleads not guilty
BANNING (CNS) - A 33-year-old convicted felon accused of slamming his BMW into a subcompact car at a Hemet intersection while drunk, killing two young women and seriously injuring a third, pleaded not guilty Friday, Dec. 31 to second-degree murder charges.
Jesus Ernesto Rios of Downey was arrested immediately after the Dec. 12 crash that fatally injured Hemet residents Dane Adkins-Radford and Emily Hale, both 21, and left their friend, Alyssa Salas, with life-threatening injuries.
In addition to the murder counts, Rios is charged with felony driving under the influence and a sentence-enhancing great bodily injury allegation.
He was arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for April 13 at the Banning Justice