A Los Angeles man pleaded not guilty Friday to charges stemming from an alleged hit-and-run DUI crash last summer in the Fairfax District in which a man lost both of his legs.
John Michael Maese, 25, is charged with one felony count each of driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury, driving with a .08% blood-alcohol content causing injury and hit-and-run driving resulting in injury to another person, along with one misdemeanor count of driving when privilege was suspended or revoked for a driving-under-the-influence conviction, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The case also includes an allegation that Maese personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim.
Maese allegedly struck the 47-year-old man as he stood behind his parked car in the 7600 block of Beverly Boulevard last Aug. 17, according to Deputy District Attorney Jacqueline Haidar.
He allegedly fled the scene after the crash.
He is free on $130,000 bond while awaiting his next appearance, April 1 at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse, when a date is to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
If convicted as charged, Maese could face a maximum of more than seven years in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.