Porterville Man Sentenced to State Prison for DUI, Fleeing the Scene
Today in Department 17 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, Judge Michael Sheltzer sentenced Mohamed Mohamed, age 22, to 9 years in prison for DUI. On July 30, 2019, Mohamed pleaded no contest to all charges filed against him by the District Attorney: felony mayhem, driving under the influence, driving with a .08% BAC causing injury, hit and run resulting in serious injury, and misdemeanor driving on a suspended license. DUI counts were enhanced with the special allegations that the crimes caused brain injury and paralysis.
Mohamed possesses a prior alcohol related reckless driving misdemeanor in Los Angeles County from February 2019 and a pending DUI charge in Kern County from March 2019.
At approximately 12:40 am on April 12, 2019, California Highway Patrol officers responded to a major injury collision in the area of West Teapot Dome Avenue. Officers observed two vehicles resting on their wheels and one vehicle on its roof. An adult male victim, determined to be a pedestrian who was standing in front of his home when the crash occurred, was observed lying on the ground with extensive injuries – both legs had been severed from his body. Prior to the arrival of law enforcement, a witness saw Mohamed flee the area on foot.
Shortly after running the suspect vehicle’s license plates, Porterville Police Department officers made contact with Mohamed at the car’s registered address and took him into custody. Mohamed failed a series of field sobriety tests and provided two preliminary alcohol screening tests which resulted in a .126% and .137% BAC. Forensics on Mohamed’s car computer system, a newer model BMW M4, showed that the vehicle reached a speed of over 150 mph just seconds before the crash.
“On behalf of the victim’s family, I am grateful Judge Sheltzer sentenced the defendant to the maximum allowed under California law. However, it is long past time for our state to take punishments for this crime seriously. Mr. Mohamed will serve his time, but his victim will never be released from the life-altering trauma he suffered because of Mr. Mohamed’s profoundly bad decision to drive drunk,” said District Attorney Tim Ward. “My office will always argue for maximum punishment allowed by the law in these tragic instances. Too many innocent lives and families are forever altered by this entirely preventable crime.”
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Brittany Knotts and was investigated by the California Highway Patrol and the Porterville Police Department.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Supervising Deputy District Attorney Mikki Verissimo (559) 636-5494