Crime & Safety

Pendleton Marine Charged in Fatal 2012 DUI Faces Hearing Friday

His attorney wants a judge to suppress some evidence, claiming it was improperly obtained.

A Marine charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with a Dana Point wreck that killed three of his fellow servicemen will face a preliminary hearing Friday where his attorney has filed a motion to suppress evidence.

According to court records, Sgt. Jared Ray Hale, 25 at the time of the February 2012 wreck in Dana Point, has entered the motion under the auspices of the section of the California Penal Code that evidence improperly obtained by deputies is inadmissible in court.

Hale has pleaded not guilty to three counts of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, each with two sentencing enhancements for infliction of great bodily harm.

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If convicted, he faces a maximum 10 years in state prison. 

At around 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, Hale is accused of arriving at Hennessey's Tavern at 34111 La Plaza in Dana Point with three friends. The defendant and his friends were all stationed at Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton. 

Around 1:50 a.m. on Feb. 14, Hale drove away from the bar in his Dodge sedan with his friends as passengers, law enforcement authorities believe.

Around 2 a.m., as Hale he approached a curve in Golden Lantern at the intersection at Terra Vista, he allegedly lost control of his vehicle, running over the landscaped center median, crashing into a tree, officials have said. The car spun around the tree and came to rest against the tree on the median.

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The wreck killed Christopher Arzola, 21, of Massachusetts, Jeremiah Callahan, 23, of Nebraska, and Jason Chleborad, 22, of South Dakota. Callahan and Arzola were pronounced dead at the scene. Chleborad was transported to Mission Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:03 a.m.

Hale was knocked unconscious in the crash and taken to Mission Hospital, where he was treated for brain trauma and a fractured arm. About an hour and a half after the crash, Hale's blood alcohol level registered 0.16 percent, prosecutors have said.

Hale's mother launched a website in his name. Terrisena Freeman is hoping the site, DefendSgtHaleUSMC.com, raises awareness and funds for his defense.

Hale is set to appear in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, room C55 at 8:30 a.m.

Debbie Sklar contributed to this report


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