Josh Klinghoffer, the former guitarist of Red Hot Chili Peppers, has accepted a no-jail plea deal after being charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter with out gross negligence in September 2024 for allegedly driving over and killing pedestrian Israel Sanchez in Alhambra, California. Klinghoffer initially pleaded not guilty by means of his lawyer, Blair Bernholz Berk, when the fees had been first filed. When reached by Pitchfork, Berk provided no touch upon the plea deal.
When showing within the courtroom on Wednesday (Could 28), Klinghoffer pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter with out gross negligence. Los Angeles County Choose Rosa Fregoso sentenced the musician to at least one yr of casual probation and 60 days of neighborhood labor, in addition to requiring him to finish a driver security class and pay restitution, the quantity of which shall be decided at a later date.
After Klinghoffer entered the plea, a prosecutor learn an announcement warning him about distracted driving once more sooner or later: “If you happen to proceed to drive whereas distracted, and on account of your driving somebody is killed, you could be charged with homicide.” Klinghoffer stated that he understood, reviews Rolling Stone.
In July 2024, Sanchez’s household sued Klinghoffer for wrongful death and negligence, claiming that the 47-year-old man was struck by the musician’s automotive when he did not yield at a crosswalk, leading to Sanchez’s dying hours later attributable to blunt-force trauma to the pinnacle. The lawsuit claimed that Klinghoffer was on his cellphone whereas driving the SUV, and that no arrest was initially made within the incident regardless of digital camera footage.
Klinghoffer’s legal professional within the civil case, Andrew B. Brettler, called it “a tragic accident” in an announcement to Pitchfork. “After the automotive struck the pedestrian, Josh instantly pulled over, stopped the automobile, known as 911, and waited till police and the ambulance arrived. He’s totally cooperating with the site visitors investigation,” stated Brettler.
The Sanchez household’s legal professional, Nick Rowley, advised Variety that “Mr. Klinghoffer needs to be arrested and prosecuted for murder.” Rowley continued: “We’ve a video of him on his cellphone on the time he hit and killed Israel Sanchez, a loving father, in a crosswalk. Israel Sanchez was on his solution to the grocery retailer to make soup for his household and by no means got here dwelling. He did every part proper, on the lookout for oncoming site visitors and abiding by pedestrian signage, however tragically Mr. Klinghoffer, in a rush and on his cellphone, hit him fatally from behind with a big SUV. The loss and grief that the Sanchez household now faces is immense. We won’t cease till there’s accountability and justice for Mr. Sanchez and his household.”
Klinghoffer performed guitar with the Crimson Sizzling Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019, when he was replaced by returning member John Frusciante. Klinghoffer was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2012, making him the youngest inductee ever on the time. Since leaving the band, he carried out as a touring member of Jane’s Addiction earlier than their abrupt breakup, and stays an lively touring guitarist in Pearl Jam.
