District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has found Gerardo Resales Villa (DOB 6/11/76), of Fillmore, guilty of killing Miguel Gallardo while driving with gross negligence, and while under the influence of alcohol. The jury also found true the special allegations that Villa personally inflicted the great bodily injury which led to the deaths of Guillermo Aguiniga, Juan Gallardo, Raul Fletes, and Horacio Sanchez. Villa was also found guilty of driving with a suspended license due to a prior driving under the influence conviction.

The driving that led to the deaths of the five victims occurred during the early morning hours of September 13, 2008, on Guiberson Road, between Piru and Fillmore in Ventura County. While driving with approximately twice the legal limit of alcohol and with methamphetamine in his system, Villa drifted over the center line of the two-lane road and struck a utility pole, killing all of the occupants instantly while Villa survived virtually unharmed. Villa was determined to be the driver of the vehicle after a thorough investigation by members of the California Highway Patrol, Moorpark Office.

Sentencing is set for January 8,2010, at 8:30 a.m., in Division 25. Villa faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison.