Robert Orabuena was sentenced to one year in the San Benito
County Jail on Monday.
Orabuena was found guilty of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter
Nov. 7
– the jury decided he was partially at fault for the death of
Salinas resident Joseph Judnick on July 4.
Orabuena was denied probation and given the maximum sentence by
Superior Court Judge Alan Hedegard.
Robert Orabuena was sentenced to one year in the San Benito County Jail on Monday.
Orabuena was found guilty of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter Nov. 7 – the jury decided he was partially at fault for the death of Salinas resident Joseph Judnick on July 4.
Orabuena was denied probation and given the maximum sentence by Superior Court Judge Alan Hedegard.
“The case was a tragedy from the beginning and there’s no winners in cases like this,” said San Benito County District Attorney John Sarsfield. “I was pleased to see a guilty verdict so quickly and I’m pleased to see that this matter has been wrapped up.”
Because the July 4 accident occurred while Orabuena was on felony probation for a prior possession of a controlled substance charge that occurred in July 2000, that case was also addressed, according to a statement issued by the District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutor Denny Wei originally submitted a request that Orabuena be sentenced to four years in prison, because the new offense could constitute a violation of his probation, Wei said.
Instead, the judge reinstated his probation to the original terms and conditions that were decided in 2000, and chose to sentence him on the misdemeanor matter only, Wei said.
Orabuena’s defense attorney Arthur Cantu was thankful the judge was able to put some balance into the request and not impose any state prison time, he said.
“The judge was in a difficult position,” Cantu said. “There’s no real remedy when someone loses a life – the question is, how egregious was the act?”
Members of Judnick’s family spoke at the sentencing, with Judnick’s brother, Jeff Strametz, stating even if Orabuena spent a lifetime in jail, it wouldn’t bring his brother back.
“For our family it’s a sense of closure,” Strametz said of the sentencing. “We don’t have to listen to things that are impossible to hear anymore. Hopefully people will respect our family and Mr. Orabuena’s family, so he can take the time to pay for the crime he’s done.”
Judnick’s wife, Janelle, also spoke at the sentencing of being overwhelmed from the sudden loss of her husband. She stated that when her daughter renewed her marriage vows last week, her father was not there to give her away. She spoke of reaching out at night and her husband not being there, Strametz said.
Orabuena’s wife, Yvette, spoke to the Judnick family and said she prays for them every night, according to Cantu.
“Orabuena addressed the court and he turned to (Judnick’s) whole family, and he was crying and saying he was sorry,” Cantu said. “He said he understood how bad it must be and that he lives with it every day.”
Orabuena’s one-year sentence will begin Dec. 21 at 10 a.m., when he will surrender to the county jail, Cantu said. Once he goes in, he will have the opportunity to apply for the jail’s work furlough program, Cantu said.
A work furlough program enables prisoners to work outside of the jail during the day and then return at night.
He will most likely be able to begin work furlough about three weeks after he surrenders, Cantu said.
The 36 days Orabuena already served in jail will be subtracted from his sentence.
The emotions expressed by both sides at Monday’s sentencing were heartfelt and a resounding sentiment was relief that it was finally over.
“We feel it has been tough for both sides,” Strametz said. “We just want to let it go.”
