Josh Klinghoffer, a former Red Chili guitarist who recently toured with Pearl Jam, accepted a Pearl Jam Wednesday to resolve allegations that he failed to surrender while driving last year.
The musician appeared in a court in Alhambra, California, without competing for misdemeanor crimes of vehicle homicide and no serious negligence. He was sentenced to one year of informal probation and 60 days of community labor. Los Angeles County Judge Rosa Fregoso said he also had to complete the driver safety shift and repay the amount of compensation to be determined later.
Prosecutors filed criminal charges against Klinhoff after a fatal accident on March 18, 2024. Officials said Klinghoffer, 45, was driving a black 2022 GMC Yukon when his vehicle hit a pedestrian Israel Sanchez. Later that day, Sanchez, 47, was pronounced dead in the hospital. His death was caused by blunt trauma.
A prosecutor read a recommendation warning not to be distracted after Klinghoffer pleaded guilty on Wednesday. "If you keep driving when you are distracted and you are killed due to your driving, you may be charged with murder," the prosecutor said, Klinhoff said he understood.
The victim's only daughter, Ashley Sanchez, cried as she issued a victim's impact statement to the court. "My father is an extraordinary grandfather of my (children)," she said. "His absence leaves an irreversible gap in our lives."
Ashley struggles to write about herself, saying her father is “the heart of our family.” She praised his passion for cooking and painting, as well as his “unique gift” from his loved ones. "His meals are more than food. They are expressions of love and care," she said.
Ashley said in Klinghoffer's speech that his actions caused her "deep and lasting trauma". She called her father's death "avoided my family's avoidance of losses."
Sanchez's family filed a lawsuit against Klinghoffer in July last year, claiming he was on his phone and driving a car without a license plate at the time of the incident. The lawsuit says Klinhoff "is likely driving when he is distracted" and "didn't brake or slow down until after the fatal attack."
In January, the judge denied the family’s re-investigation to seek punitive damages in the case. The judge ruled for the second time that the statements against Klinhoff did not raise the level of "intentional and conscious disregard" to ensure the safety of others.
A hearing on civil cases is scheduled to be held on July 1.