Camarillo,CA : Motorcyclist admits fault in crash that killed girlfriend on August, Tuesday 1st 2017

A 28-year-old Camarillo man admitted in court this week that he caused the death of his 23-yearold girlfriend when he crashed the motorcycle they were riding into the side of a train at a local rail crossing more than a year ago.

Garrett Scott Vongunten, wearing the blue pants and blue short-sleeved shirt issued to Ventura County Main Jail inmates, changed the not guilty pleas he entered in March in Ventura County Superior Court to guilty Tuesday.

He admitted to one felony count of manslaughter with gross negligence without intoxication and one count of felony manslaughter causing great bodily harm in the death of Nadya Unger of Camarillo, the owner of a local pet grooming business.

The former U.S. Marine, who lost part of his leg in the April 2016 crash, could receive a maximum of six years in prison and be ordered to pay $210,000 in court fines and restitution. Some of that money would go to Unger’s family.

After entering the courtroom in a wheelchair, Vonguten stood on crutches and repeatedly answered “Yes, sir” when Senior Deputy District Attorney Taylor Waters asked him if he understood the penalties he faced by pleading guilty and whether he voluntarily gave up his right to a trial and several other rights entitled to him by law.

County Superior Court Judge Bruce Young granted a request from Vongunten’s attorney, Douglas Ridley, to delay sentencing until Aug. 29 and ordered Vongunten back to jail.

On that date, relatives and friends of Unger will give impact statements before Young hands down Vongunten’s sentence.

Unger died two days after her 23rd birthday.



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Motorcyclist admits fault in crash that killed girlfriend