Orange Resident Charged with Manslaughter in Halloween Hit and Run

A tragic accident on Halloween night left three young girls dead after a hit-and-run.

Tuesday, prosecutors charged Jaquinn Ramone Bell, 31, with felony vehicular manslaughter, hit and run with permanent injury or death and driving on a suspended license. The charges followed the deaths of twins Lexi and Lexandra Perez Huerta and their friend, Andrea Gonzalez.

Bell, an Orange resident, was suspected of running over the three girls on Halloween and leaving them to die in the street had a suspended driver’s license and a warrant for his arrest.

In 2009, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic battery for punching his wife. He was ordered to serve three years’ probation and enrolled in a treatment program for domestic violence with a drug and alcohol component.

A year later Bell pleaded guilty to violating a protective order to stay away from his estranged wife and was sentenced to three years’ probation, according to court records.

Bell’s license had been revoked Aug. 4, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles, after a previous arrest for misdemeanor hit-and-run with property damage, driving under the influence and child endangerment. As part of the plea agreement, he was placed on probation and also ordered to attend alcohol- and child-abuse treatment programs.

In August, he had at least one bench warrant out for his arrest. Since 2010, authorities have issued arrest warrants for Bell on five occasions for probation violations.

Authorities have not yet indicated that Bell had been driving under the influence in the Halloween hit-and-run. However, investigations are continuing to determine how fast Bell was driving the night in question, and why he fled from police. Bell is being held in Santa Ana Jail on a bond of $530,000, accused of felony hit-and-run causing death.

A criminal conviction is costly. You may serve time in prison, you may have your license revoked, your career and family life will be disrupted, and your record will be stained by such convictions. Our goal at Brower and Associates is to provide an aggressive and comprehensive defense to those accused of a crime throughout Orange County. If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, contact Brower and Associates today.