Contact:

Kasey Sirody, Deputy District Attorney

(805)654-2520

(818) 631-7118  

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Tomas E. Mercer (DOB 2/7/81) was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to violating the probation imposed on him after he was convicted of violating PC 192(c)(3) vehicular manslaughter.

In the early morning hours of November 27, 2003 (Thanksgiving), Tomas Mercer was driving a pickup truck with five of his friends as passengers when he was involved in a solo-vehicle accident on Foothill Road near Aliso Canyon road. Three of the passengers, Rebecca Amy Singer-Beilin, Michael Frick and Timothy Coultas, died as a result of the accident. On October 20, 2004, Mercer pled guilty to violating Penal Code section 192(c)(3), vehicular manslaughter, with two special allegations pursuant to Vehicle Code section 23558 that he caused death to more than one victim. He faced a maximum of six years in prison based on that plea. On February 8, 2005, Mercer was sentenced to 365 days in Ventura County jail with 60 months of formal probation.

Mercer performed well on probation and on January 27, 2009, his driver's license was reinstated, provided he had the required Ignition Interlock Device on his vehicle. However, on March 28, 2009, and April 11, 2009, the Ignition Interlock Device recorded multiple failed attempts to start the vehicle, and the results of each of the tests were indicative of alcohol use by Mercer.

Included in the terms of Mercer's probation was the term that he was not to drink or possess any alcoholic beverage, so on May 12, 2009, with only 10 months left on his grant of probation, he was charged with the two violations of his probation. On July 7, 2009, Mercer admitted the violations of probation and was sentenced to two years in state prison.