Orabuena, 41, was found guilty of misdemeanor vehicular
manslaughter Nov. 7
– the jury decided he was partially at fault for the death of
Salinas resident Joseph Judnick, 48, on July 4.
HOLLISTER – Robert Orabuena was sentenced to one year in the San Benito County Jail last week.
Orabuena, 41, was found guilty of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter Nov. 7 – the jury decided he was partially at fault for the death of Salinas resident Joseph Judnick, 48, on July 4.
Orabuena, a Gilroy resident, was denied probation and given the maximum sentence by Superior Court Judge Alan Hedegard.
“The case was a tragedy from the beginning and there’s no winners in cases like this,” said San Benito County District Attorney John Sarsfield. “I was pleased to see a guilty verdict so quickly, and I’m pleased to see that this matter has been wrapped up.”
Because the July 4 accident occurred while Orabuena was on felony probation for the possession of a controlled substance, that case was also addressed, according to a statement issued by the District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutor Denny Wei originally submitted a request that Orabuena be sentenced to four years in prison, because the new offense could constitute a violation of his probation, Wei said.
Instead, the judge reinstated his probation to its original terms and conditions, and chose to sentence him on the misdemeanor matter only, Wei said.
Orabuena’s defense attorney Arthur Cantu was thankful that the judge was able to put some balance into the request and not impose any state prison time, he said.
“The judge was in a difficult position,” Cantu said. “There’s no real remedy when someone loses a life – the question is, how egregious was the act?”
Members of Judnick’s family spoke at the sentencing, with Judnick’s half-brother, Jeff Strametz, of Gilroy, stating that even if Orabuena spent a lifetime in jail, it wouldn’t bring his brother back.
“For our family it’s a sense of closure,” Strametz said of the sentencing. “We don’t have to listen to things that are impossible to hear anymore. Hopefully people will respect our family and Mr. Orabuena’s family, so he can take the time to pay for the crime he’s done.”
Judnick attended Morgan Hill schools while growing up.
Judnick’s wife, Janelle, also spoke at the sentencing of being overwhelmed from the sudden loss of her husband. She stated that when her daughter renewed her marriage vows last week, her father was not there to give her away. She spoke of reaching out at night and her husband not being there, Strametz said.
