Enrique A. Morales Murillo, a 41-year-old man with a previous DUI conviction, was found guilty on Monday of second-degree murder after his girlfriend was killed in a DUI crash in Santa Ana.
Murillo was behind the wheel of a pickup truck when he lost contorl and then crashed into a palm tree and a light pole at about 2 a.m. on April 21, 2024, near 800 S. Main St., according to the OCDA prosecutors.
Murillo’s girlfriend, 27-year-old Jocelyn Janet Campos of Paramount, was killed in the crash. She had been sitting in the passenger seat of Murillo’s vehicle. She left behind an 8-year-old daughter.
When the accident occurred, Murillo was driving southbound on Main Street with Campos in the front passenger seat and his friend, Juan Garcia in the back seat. Murillo then accelerated up to about 82 mph as he passed Richland Street, according to a trial brief filed by the prosecutors.
Murillo then lost control and he then veered off the street into the tree, light pole and several business signs, according to the prosecutors.
Murillo and Campos found themselves trapped in the truck. They were freed by firefighters, according to the prosecutors. Garcia was not seriously injured in the accident.
Murillo was wasted in so many was when the collision occured. He had a blood-alcohol level of .24, which was three times the legal limit. The prosecutors also said he had marijuana and methamphetamine in his system at the time of the crash.
Murillo was warned when he had a prior DUI conviction in Los Angeles County, on Feb. 23, 2014, that he could face a murder charge instead of manslaughter if he got into a DUI fatal crash. He did not heed the warning.
Before the crash Murillo and his friend and girlfriend had gone to Parral Nightclub acording to the prosecutors.
Murillo was convicted of several felony charges, including second-degree murder, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level of .08% or more causing injury and driving under the influence of alcohol and drug while causing injury.
It is not known if Murillo was in this country legally.
Based on California law and recent case precedents, here’s what sentence Enrique A. Morales Murillo can expect:
- Second-Degree Murder (Watson Murder)
- This is an indeterminate sentence under California Penal Code §187.
- Typical range: 15 years to life in state prison.
- Because Murillo had a prior DUI conviction and received a Watson admonition (warning that a future DUI fatality could lead to murder charges), prosecutors successfully proved implied malice.
- Additional Felony DUI Charges
- Driving under the influence causing injury and DUI with drugs/alcohol causing injury can add consecutive terms.
- These enhancements often range from 2 to 6 years per count, depending on injuries and prior record.
- Aggravating Factors
- Extremely high BAC (.24), presence of methamphetamine and marijuana, excessive speed (82 mph), and prior DUI conviction make the case more severe.
- These factors could push the sentence toward the higher end of the range or lead to consecutive sentencing.
Likely Outcome
- Base term: 15 years to life for second-degree murder.
- Plus enhancements: Several years for DUI causing injury and other related felonies.
- Total exposure: Realistically 20 years to life or more, depending on how the judge structures consecutive vs. concurrent terms.