Chico man sentenced to 13 years for DUI manslaughter

A Chico man who had seven prior DUI offenses was charged for DUI manslaughter after causing a death on a Paradise highway.


Richard Wilson, 65, was found guilty of the death of 51-year-old Jonna Therese Smith of Chico, as well as causing an injury to the driver of the car he collided with, 58-year-old Steve Julian Valencia of Paradise. Valencia suffered internal injuries and Wilson suffered injuries to his hip and heel.


The accident happened in January 2015, but the sentence was not decided until April 14 of this year. Wilson was charged with DUI alcohol causing bodily injury, DUI for .08 blood alcohol content causing bodily injury, vehicle manslaughter while intoxicated, and driving the wrong way on a highway causing injury or death, according to the Butte County Jail Inmate Information System.


The collision happened on Skyway near Paradise. Wilson was driving westbound in eastbound lanes and hit a car coming toward him. He had seven previous DUI convictions before this, and pled guilty to all allegations against him, according to the Butte County District Attorney’s office.


There are no further court appearances scheduled for Wilson at this time.

Photo by Jeffrey Smith


By Hannah Suzuki

ChicoReport

ChicoReport is a local news project produced by students in the Public Affairs Reporting class (JOUR 321) at California State University, Chico. You can read more about the individual reporters, editors and writers on our Contributors page. If you have questions, comments or news tips, email us at chicoreport@gmail.com