Ramiro Rodriguezsegura, a 31-year-old Costa Mesa man, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in connection with an alleged alcohol-fueled crash that killed Paula Ramirez, a 65-year-old, back in March of 2022.
Rodriguezsegura is facing felony charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, and driving with a blood alcohol level at or above the legal limit of .08% as well as a sentencing enhancement for allegedly inflicting great bodily injury on the victim.
Rodriguezsegura is accused of killing 65-year-old Paula Ramirez in a collision on March 6, 2022. His blood-alcohol level at the time was .15, or nearly twice the legal limit, according to the criminal complaint. Rodriguezsegura was arrested by Costa Mesa police this past Monday.
He is due in court again on Jan. 14 for a pretrial hearing at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
The OCDA and the CHP did not provide any further details about the collision or the victim.
Explaining the three-year delay in the arrest of Rodriguezsegura
That kind of delay does happen in fatal DUI cases, and it usually looks strange from the outside. In reality, there are several procedural and legal reasons why an arrest can come months or even years later, especially in California. Here are the most likely explanations based on how these cases typically unfold.
1. Fatal DUI cases are often investigated like homicides
When someone dies, police don’t just write a DUI report and book the driver. They have to build a case that can survive a felony manslaughter prosecution, which requires much more work than a standard DUI arrest.
That includes:
- Full collision reconstruction
- Downloading vehicle event data recorders (black boxes)
- Toxicology testing and expert review of BAC results
- Determining gross negligence (required for felony manslaughter)
- Reviewing body cams, surveillance, and witness statements
This type of investigation can take many months on its own, especially if prosecutors want the case airtight before filing.
2. Prosecutors must approve felony charges before arrest
In California, for serious felony cases like gross vehicular manslaughter, police often:
- Submit the case to the District Attorney’s Office
- Wait for the DA to formally file charges
- Obtain an arrest warrant after judicial review
Until the DA signs off, police usually cannot arrest, even if they believe the suspect is responsible.
That back-and-forth between:
- Costa Mesa Police
- The Orange County DA
- Accident reconstruction specialists
can easily stretch into years.
3. Toxicology and expert opinions take time
Your summary says his alleged BAC was .15, nearly twice the legal limit. Even so, prosecutors must:
- Confirm lab accuracy
- Ensure chain of custody
- Obtain expert calculations about BAC at the time of driving, not just later testing
- Rule out defenses like rising BAC, medical issues, or testing errors
Defense attorneys routinely attack toxicology evidence. Prosecutors often delay filing charges until every vulnerability is addressed.
4. The suspect may not have been a flight risk
If Rodriguezsegura:
- Stayed in the area
- Cooperated with investigators
- Was not violating release conditions
- Had no immediate danger to the public
There is less urgency to arrest him immediately. Police sometimes wait until charges are finalized and then execute an arrest warrant or controlled surrender.
This is common in white-collar crimes and serious traffic fatalities alike.
5. COVID-era and post-pandemic court backlogs matter
The crash occurred in March 2022, right when:
- Courts were still dealing with pandemic delays
- Lab testing backlogs were widespread
- Serious felony filings slowed statewide
Many fatal DUI cases from 2021–2022 were not charged until late 2024 or 2025 for exactly these reasons.
6. Statute of limitations allowed time
For gross vehicular manslaughter, the statute of limitations is generally 6 years in California. That gives prosecutors time to:
- Investigate thoroughly
- Avoid weak filings
- File charges when they believe conviction is likely
Waiting does not harm their legal position if they stay within that window.
What the timing actually suggests
Ironically, a long delay often means:
- Prosecutors believe the case is strong enough now
- They are ready to commit to felony charges
- They have resolved technical and evidentiary issues
If the case were shaky, it might never have been filed at all.
Why arrest now?
The arrest this week likely happened because:
- Charges were formally filed
- An arrest warrant was issued or bail conditions were set
- Prosecutors were ready to move into the pretrial phase
The upcoming Jan. 14 pretrial hearing indicates the case is now fully underway.
Bottom line
The delay doesn’t mean the case was ignored. It almost certainly reflects:
- A cautious felony investigation
- Prosecutors waiting for expert confirmation
- System-wide delays that were common post‑2020
Potential sentencing exposure under California law if Rodriguezsegura is convicted
Charges and Potential Sentences (California)
1. Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated
California Penal Code § 191.5(a)
This is the most serious charge.
- State prison: 4, 6, or 10 years
- This applies when a death occurs due to DUI with gross negligence
2. DUI Causing Bodily Injury
Vehicle Code § 23153(a)
- Can be charged as a felony
- State prison: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years
- Additional 3–6 years may be added if great bodily injury (GBI) is found true (see enhancement below)
3. Driving With BAC ≥ 0.08%
Vehicle Code § 23152(b)
- Usually merged into sentencing on more serious DUI counts
- Rarely adds separate prison time on its own in fatal DUI cases
4. Great Bodily Injury Enhancement
Penal Code § 12022.7
- Additional 3 to 6 years added consecutively
- Applies when severe or fatal injury is inflicted
- Often alleged in DUI manslaughter cases
Realistic Total Exposure
If convicted on the top count and the GBI enhancement is applied:
- Minimum exposure: ~7 years
- Maximum exposure:up to 16 years or more
- Example: 10 years (manslaughter) + 6-year GBI enhancement
Judges have discretion within these ranges, and sentences can be:
- Reduced through plea bargaining
- Increased if there are aggravating factors
- Adjusted based on criminal history, victim impact statements, and probation reports
Other Consequences (If Convicted)
- Permanent felony record
- License revocation
- Restitution to the victim’s family
- Strike implications in some circumstances (case-dependent)
Key Reminder
Because Rodriguezsegura has pleaded not guilty, he is presumed innocent, and:
- Charges may be reduced, dismissed, or pled down
- Sentencing depends on trial outcomes or plea negotiations
Not that we should necessarily have much sympathy for the defendant, but they are human beings, and sometimes are innocent. The current pace of our criminal justice system is cruel and unusual punishment in and of itself. The fact that we simply ignore the 6th Amendment of the US Constitution cannot be explained away with procedural nonsense or flat out trickery like waiting several years to charge the defendant when they have every intention of doing so. This looks like a run of the mill DUI fatality case. It’s entirely inexcusable that it would take years to even bring charges against the defendant. Commit a crime, you should be charged and tried right away. Period. If that means hiring more detectives, law clerks, judges, and building more courthouses, then DO IT! If the court wants respect, it needs to respect the US Constitution.