Bradford R. Fenocchio

District Attorney

PLACER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

10810 Justice Center Drive, Suite 240

Roseville , California 95678

916 543-8000

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Date: May 22, 2009                        

Contact:

                        Art Campos

                        Public information Officer

                        916 543-8076

                        Scott Owens

                        Acting Assistant District Attorney

                        916 543-8000

JUDGE DECLARES MISTRIAL AFTER JURY CAN’T REACH

VERDICT IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY SERGEANT’S DUI CASE

            A Placer County jury was unable to reach a verdict today in the trial of Christopher Dayton Guerrero, the Sacramento County sheriff’s sergeant who was prosecuted on charges of driving under the influence while off duty in 2007.

            The jury deliberated for parts of three days but was deadlocked on the counts of DUI and of DUI with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher, leading Superior Court Judge Joseph O’Flaherty to declare a mistrial.

            O’Flaherty scheduled a court date of June 16 for the Placer County District Attorney’s Office to decide whether it will request a new trial.

            The Guerrero case stems from a traffic stop on Oct. 4, 2007, in which a Roseville police officer administered field sobriety tests and a preliminary  screening test on a breath device that indicated the defendant was over the limit at which a person is considered legally intoxicated in California.

            Using his discretion, the officer allowed Guerrero to get a ride home. Further review of the case by Roseville police and the District Attorney’s Office resulted in the DUI charges being filed.