(Woodland, CA) – February 25, 2021 – On February 25, 2021, the Yolo County District Attorney’s office filed a criminal complaint against a 27-year-old Elk Grove man, Gabriel Rhythm Poletti. The complaint alleges two charges of Murder with enhancements for infliction of great bodily injury and infliction of great bodily injury upon a child under five years of age; two charges of Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated with a Prior DUI Conviction with enhancements for infliction of great bodily injury, infliction of great bodily injury upon a child under five years of age, and causing bodily injury or death to multiple victims; one charge of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Injury with enhancements for infliction of great bodily injury, infliction of great bodily injury upon a child under five years of age, causing bodily injury or death to multiple victims, suffering a prior DUI conviction within the past ten years, and for having a blood alcohol content over 0.15%; and one charge of Driving at 0.08% BAC or Above Causing Injury, with enhancements for infliction of great bodily injury, infliction of great bodily injury upon a child under five years of age, causing bodily injury or death to multiple victims, suffering a prior DUI conviction within the past ten years, and for having a blood alcohol content over 0.15%.
When an individual is convicted of a DUI, California courts require an advisement that states that “driving under the influence is a dangerous act that may kill or injure others.” If, after being convicted of a prior DUI with that advisement, the individual commits another DUI which results in the death of a person, that individual may be charged with murder.
Poletti is currently being held without bail in the Yolo County Jail. The arraignment on the criminal complaint is scheduled to occur February 26, 2021, at 1:30 pm in Department 1 of the Yolo Superior Court. The arraignment will be available on the Superior Court’s live stream at https://www.yolo.courts.ca.gov/online-services/hearing-stream.
###
