Garberville Man Sentenced for DUI Causing Injury, Hit and Run and Vehicular Manslaughter
Press release from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office:
Earl Ray Castillo [Booking photo provided by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office]
Today, the Honorable Judge Steven Steward sentenced 54-year-old Earl Ray Castillo to serve 7 years in prison for felony driving while under the influence and causing injury, and hit and run, as well as misdemeanor evading law enforcement and vehicular manslaughter.
Castillo was convicted of his crimes by a Humboldt County jury on March 25 of this year after they heard evidence detailing the tragic events of September 20, 2023. On that afternoon in September, 67-year-old Steven Ray of Sacramento, and his wife of 37 years were hiking through the Richardson Grove State Park when Ray, walking a short distance ahead of his wife, emerged onto the shoulder of Highway 101. Suddenly, as his wife looked upon him, Ray was struck and killed by Castillo’s speeding Toyota Tundra. Castillo, who suffered a DUI conviction a few months earlier, immediately fled the scene, where Ray, in the arms of his wife, succumbed to his injuries. With the heroic assistance of citizens, and multiple Cal Trans employees, CHP officers located Castillo that same day as he drove his visibly damaged Tundra on Highway 101. When officers attempted to pull him over Castillo fled, reaching speeds as high as 90 mph. Ultimately, he was arrested and brought to trial for his crimes.
Deputy District Attorney Emily Norgaard prosecuted the case with assistance from DA Investigator Martin Morris and DA Victim Advocate Ben Duhem. Mr. Castillo was represented by local attorney RJ Leohner. Judge Steward, who imposed the maximum allowed under the law for the crimes, presided over the trial.
District Attorney Stacey Eads stated: “I am deeply sorry for Mr. Ray’s wife, son, and other loved ones who suffered, and will continue to suffer, such tragic loss caused by Mr. Castillo’s senseless decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. I commend the California Highway Patrol for the extensive investigation conducted, participation by community members, including passersby and Cal Trans employees, and the jury for time and service – all critical to reaching a sense of justice.”
Earlier: DUI Suspect Fled Fatal Hit-and-Run in Richardson Grove, Says CHP
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
I’m betting he will be out in 18 months… and driving again.
Based upon what?
Based in Marcis Kitchen of Fortina who served maybe 25% of her 8 year DUO manslaughter conviction…
Or based on the past record of cases involved in this guy. He should have 3 DUI’s on his record, but they pleaded one down to reckless driving previously.
What a disgrace to the deceaseds family. 7 years is a slap on the wrist, guaranteed he’s had a DUI before which means this should have been a murder trial.
Only 7 years for driving under the influence and killing someone. What has happened to our world?
The left has been on a race to the ethical and moral bottom for decades now. This is our karma for allowing it.
Oh I know. I don’t know why people don’t wake up and see it.
Oh heck. Traitorous insurrectionists have gotten only a couple of months for conspiring to violently overthrow the government, killing cops on their way.
I don’t know where you got your info.
Can you back this statement up with facts please. It sounds alot like “misinformation”.
Nobody killed a cop. Most people were sentenced for trespassing and vandalism.
Prison is very expensive. Human life is very cheap despite all the lip service to the contrary. Cost benefit analysis.
Simple answer
BIDEN
Biden derangement syndrome?
Sadly, Biden is the deranged person.
Can’t blame this one on Biden, it started well before he was even vice president. Blame it on the California bureaucracy And the voters that keep voting for this bull 💩.
Uh…..well…hmmmmm. Good luck with that, whatever it is.
From an obviously simple minded fellow, Michael
Not only that but evaded police and then resisted arrest. I mean it may have been different if he stayed at the scene and showed some remorse for his actions. Instead he ran and left the man to die on the side of the road, that in itself should come with a 12 year minimum sentence.
It’s not enough. As others have already noted, he will be out in much less than the 7 years.
There’s nothing honorable about Judge Steven Steward’s decision. Castillo killed a man and only gets 7 years…Life is cheap in America and what’s left of our criminal justice system. He’ll be released in 3 years.
Pretty sure 7 years is all you do for manslaughter. Back in the day, San Francisco supervisor Dan White got 7 for killing two, the Mayor and another supervisor. Started a big old riot!
He was under the influence of… ‘Twinkies’.
— web stuff
>”The term originated from the 1979 trial of Dan White, a San Francisco politician, who was charged with first-degree murder. A testifying psychiatrist pointed out that White’s consumption of sugary foods, such as Twinkies, could lead to diminished capacity.”
Not any longer…
Penalties include:
7 years? Wtf?
The word justice was mentioned. I guess they changed the meaning of that.
Time to get judges who are on the side of common sense.
Calling our legal system a system of “justice” is a misnomer. It is a system of punishment/revenge only. To provide “justice” for a murder or rape victim would require the use of a time machine to go back before the crime and prevent it….as a criminal defense attorney once told me “the truth is what’s provable and what’s provable is rarely the truth.”
Wow! That makes me ill. WTF?! He murdered them in cold blood. 7 years?! I just couldn’t believe you were correct, but I looked it up. He only served 5 years, released 2 years early!
That’s mind boggling.
Damnation, what a tragic loss for the Ray family.
He was convicted of a DUI a few months earlier as well? Then again, Wheatley was in, like four DUIs it seems and kept his government job, Watson finished his term after DUI with alcohol and street drugs, Mr Pelosi had a DUI and nephew Governor Newsom told law enforcement and DA to stand down. What would make anyone think any DUI is actually important? I would certainly go into court if I were a juror on a DUI case and demand prison time for all government officials with DUI before convicting a lowly peasant. It’s the liberal way, though.
Yes, this man killed someone, so should never see the outside of a cell again, but apparently, liberal government personnel are above the law. It’s time for change.
Poor Castillo had suffered a dui previously
Yeah….poor wording in the press release.
Looks kinda like Clarence Williams the 3rd
I’m so sorry to the family of Steven Ray. What a tragic experience. 💔
Was 7 years the maximum allowable penalty?