Man Accused in DUI Death Will Stand Trial

A man accused of causing the death of a La Cresta man in a DUI crash last July must answer to all charges, a judge has decided.

The case against Richard Michael Proger, 40, of Menifee was the subject of a three-hour preliminary hearing held Friday at Southwest Justice Center. Proger is accused in the July 6, 2011, crash on Clinton Keith Road that .

Murrieta police investigators gave testimony during Friday's hearing, as did a toxicologist. 

"He admitted to drinking 10 and two-thirds cans of beer that night," said Deputy District Attorney David Tahan, who is prosecuting the case. "He had .19 percent (blood alcohol content) an hour and a half after the crash."

According to Tahan, Proger also tested positive for vicodin.

"He tested at the top of the therapuetic level," Tahan said.

At Proger's arraignment in August 2011, he was ordered to wear an ankle bracelet that hourly monitors his blood alcohol content as a condition to being released on bail pending a trial.

Tahan said he did not believe Proger had violated those terms.

"If he had been he would have been in custody," Tahan said. "I'm pretty sure he is abstaining."

Proger was scheduled to appear again on March 15. During that proceeding, Tahan said a trial date may likely be set.

If convicted, Proger, a husband and father, faces as many as 10 years in prison, Tahan said.