The sad saga of the Robert Orabuena trial and conviction
continued this week as he agreed to pay $48,000 in restitution to
the family of Joseph Judnick, who was killed in a July 4 accident
last year on Fairview Road.
The sad saga of the Robert Orabuena trial and conviction continued this week as he agreed to pay $48,000 in restitution to the family of Joseph Judnick, who was killed in a July 4 accident last year on Fairview Road.
Orabuena could have contested the amount, but decided not to as he serves his one-year sentence in San Benito County Jail.
This is just one more unfair addition to the long list since the Gilroy resident turned left into the path of Judnick, who reportedly was speeding on his motorcycle before his tragic death.
Again, we sympathize with the Judnick family on their loss, but what about Orabuena and his family?
How much money have they lost since the time Orabuena was originally jailed and falsely accused of second-degree murder, including sitting in jail for more than a month?
How much money did they lose after he lost his job at Charter Communications?
How much money did they lose during his agonizing trial and the long wait for test results that proved negative and finally the reduction in charges?
How much are they losing as he sits in county jail for a year and can’t support his family like he was before what is agreed on was an accident?
How will he realistically pay that large sum of money to the Judnick family – imagine adding $48,000 to your amount of credit card or loan debt – and still get back on his feet after he is released?
What did his family do to deserve being in a lifelong financial nightmare?
Deputy District Attorney Denny Wei, who prosecuted this showcase of injustice, wanted even a higher amount, reportedly in six figures.
Why?
More bad blood. More signs of prejudice. More malicious prosecution.
Overall, it is more unfair results for Robert Orabuena, who was mostly guilty of being in San Benito County at the time he made the fateful left turn on Fairview Road last Fourth of July weekend.
