DRUNK DRIVING: Irvine Drunk Driver Pleads ‘Not-Guilty’ to Murder Charges

June 2, 2011

Irvine – The drunk driver responsible for the collision accident which left a 14-year-old cheerleader brain dead has pleaded ‘not-guilty’ to murder charges a few days ago.

Austin Jeffrey Farley, a 26-year-old pick-up truck driver appeared on-court with his jail outfit while standing under arraignment for the death of Ashton Sweet, a Northwood High School Student.

The accident happened a few days ago while Farley, driving with a blood-alcohol content almost three times the normal limit, made a left turn on a red-light and slammed at the Mercedes Benz, leaving Sweet and her companions severely injured.

Forty eight-year-old driver Michael Ghaemi and three other girls were inside the Mercedes as they rode home from a friend’s birthday party.

The accident prompted Sweet’s friends to create an online Facebook campaign condemning drunk driving.

Sweet, initially labeled as sustaining “irreversible brain damage”, was officially declared dead the day before Farley’s arraignment. Doctors reported that she suffered from severe traumatic brain injury, cerebral edema, and skull fracture, which resulted to the incurability of her condition.

The ‘not-guilty’ plea of Farley resulted to him facing a potential 20-year to life imprisonment sentence and a rich $1-million bail if he is convicted on all counts.

Farley was also found to possess previous run-ins with the law on drunk driving. Orange County court records show that he pleaded guilty for drunk driving and battery of a police officer two years ago.

Records also show that he was arrested for driving with a suspended license six years ago, while also refusing to submit to a chemical test for DUI.