A 28-year-old felon pleaded guilty Wednesday and was immediately sentenced to 196 days, or time already served, in jail for a hit-and-run crash in Santa Ana that killed a pregnant woman’s 8-month-old fetus.
Joel Giovanni Andalon pleaded guilty to a felony count of hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury and a misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license, according to court records.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Gary Pohlson sentenced the defendant to four years in state prison, but suspended it as long as Andaon complies with conditions of two years of formal probation, which includes completing 180 hours of community service.
The two-car crash occurred at 9:46 a.m. June 26 at First and Lacy streets. Andalon was speeding and crashed into a car turning left onto Lacy Street, according to Santa Ana police.
The pregnant woman is a friend of Andalon and was a passenger in his car, police said. She underwent emergency surgery, but her fetus did not survive.
Police said two other people were injured in the crash, after which Andalon got out of his car and ran from the scene.
Andalon pleaded guilty March 29, 2019, to leading police on a chase and was sentenced to two years in prison then.