A California woman who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs when she killed a 23-year-old pregnant woman in 2020 has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
Courtney Pandolfi, now 44, pleaded guilty Feb. 6 to second-degree murder in addition to one count of driving under the influence of a drug causing injury at the same time as the The case was heading to trial.
She also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of driving with a suspended or revoked license due to a DUI, driving under the influence of a drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as other related charges to drugs.
Pandolfi was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison Friday, four years after the Jeep she was driving crashed into 35-weeks pregnant Yesenia Lisette Aguilar, then 23, on an Anaheim sidewalk.
Aguilar’s baby was born via emergency C-section after she died from her injuries at a local hospital and the little girl, named Adalyn Rose, is being raised by her father and Aguilar’s husband, James Alvarez.
Courtney Pandolfi, a California woman who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs when she killed a 23-year-old pregnant woman in 2020, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
Pandolfi was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison on Friday, four years after the Jeep she was driving crashed into 35-weeks pregnant Yesenia Lisette Aguilar (pictured), then 23, on a sidewalk of Anaheim.
Aguilar’s baby was born via emergency C-section after she died from her injuries at a local hospital and the little girl, named Adalyn Rose (pictured right), is being raised by her father and Aguilar’s husband, James Alvarez (pictured left)
“Even though 15 years to live is not enough, I can finally breathe after fighting for so long to get the justice we deserve,” Alvarez said in an Instagram post. “My fight is not over and I will continue to fight to make sure she never gets out of this.”
Prosecutors said Pandolfi was taking a “drug cocktail” including cocaine and methamphetamine in August 2020 when she drove her Jeep SUV on a sidewalk in Anaheim. hitting Aguilar.
Alvarez was walking with her but was not injured.
Pandolfi, of Garden Grove, was convicted of driving under the influence of drugs in 2008, 2015 and 2016.
As a result, she received a warning – known as the Watson Notice – that if she continued driving under the influence and killed someone, she could be charged with murder.
In addition to pleading guilty to the crash that killed Aguilar, Pandolfi also admitted to driving while on a combination of drugs, including methamphetamine and morphine, in November 2019.
She also admitted to possessing and using illegal drugs in jail while awaiting trial, the Register reported.
Speaking after the sentencing, Alvarez detained Adalyn Rose and said he believed his wife’s last thoughts were of their daughter.
Adalyn Rose was delivered by emergency C-section after the accident. Newborn baby fights to survive and is monitored for brain damage at UC Irvine Medical Center
Aguilar was struck and killed after Pandolfi lost control of the white Jeep she was driving Tuesday evening.
Pandolfi, now 44, pleaded guilty Feb. 6 to second-degree murder, in addition to one count of driving under the influence of a drug causing injury, just as the case was headed to trial.
“She survived. I survived. So I was given a second chance in life and I’m going to get something good out of it. I want to fight for these poor victims who lost someone in a tragic accident because of a drunk driver,” Alvarez said.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer called Pandolfi’s actions “beyond shocking” and “absolutely reprehensible” in 2020.
In a statement, DA Spitzer further criticized Pandolfi, saying, “This was 100% avoidable.” This woman knew the consequences of driving under the influence and she did it anyway.
“There is no reason why a 23-year-old mother should have died and her daughter would grow up without ever seeing her mother’s smile or hearing her voice.”
At the time she was struck, Aguilar was walking with Alvarez, who witnessed the horrific incident.
The heartbroken widower said his wife was “so excited” to become a mum and revealed they had been trying to conceive for two years.
“It’s like I’m living a nightmare and I hope I wake up soon,” Alverez told KTLA through tears on Wednesday.
“But I accept the reality that she’s gone. And my daughter is the only thing I have left.
Speaking after the sentencing, Alvarez detained Adalyn Rose and said he believed his wife’s last thoughts were of their daughter.
Alvarez revealed at the time of the accident that the couple had been trying for two years to have a baby
The fatal incident occurred at 7:37 p.m. at Katella Avenue and Bayless Street when a female driver, later identified as Courtney Pandolfi, 40 (above), lost control of her vehicle.
Recalling the moment they noticed Pandolfi’s Jeep charging toward them, Alvarez said, “I was holding his hand. I was trying to pull him towards me… and suddenly, in a second, my life changed.
Álvarez said he is now focused on making sure his daughter gets better and gets the medical care she needs in order to keep part of his wife with him.
“I just pray that she is healthy. She’s the last thing I have of her,” he said.
Pandolfi, meanwhile, was taken to hospital with minor to moderate injuries.
dailymail us
