A former Bakersfield Police Department officer pleaded no contest Thursday to vehicular manslaughter in the case of a 2023 fatal car crash involving a BPD vehicle traveling without lights or sirens.
Ricardo Robles was originally charged with one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of reckless driving with injuries.
Robles appeared in court Thursday with his defense attorney David Torres. Following the change in plea to the manslaughter charge, the assault with a deadly weapon and reckless driving charges were dismissed.
He is accused of crashing a BPD vehicle into a car, killing Mario Lares and injuring Ana Hernandez on Jan. 19, 2023, at South Vineyard Drive and Muller Road. Robles was a BPD officer at the time of the crash but has since resigned from the force.
According to a California Highway Patrol report submitted to the courts, Robles was driving with his partner Travione Cobbins, who was also injured in the crash. The police report said Robles and Cobbins were in persuit of a stolen vehicle when they failed to stop at a stop sign and entered the intersection at a high speed.
According to CHP, the BPD vehicle did not have its lights or sirens on at the time of the crash.
Robles’ sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 15. He faces up to one year in jail, felony probation and community service hours.
Lares’ family and Hernandez are also suing Robles. The next hearing for the lawsuit is set for Jan. 10. The trial for that lawsuit is scheduled to start Feb. 10.
In relation to the crash, the man BPD was chasing the night of the crash was charged with manslaughter.
Michael Monte Stephens Jr. is charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, evading police officers causing death, evading police officers causing injury, recklessly evading police officers, driving a vehicle in the opposite direction of traffic, taking a vehicle without permission, possessing a stolen vehicle and driving with a suspended license.
Stephens pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Earlier this week, Stephens’ preliminary hearing was confirmed for Oct. 30. He remains in Kern County Jail on $500,000 bail.
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