Trial in Crash Death of La Cresta Man Delayed

The trial of a man accused of DUI manslaughter in the July 2011 death of an elderly La Cresta man was pushed back today.

Private defense attorneys for Richard Proger, 40, of Menifee, asked for a continuance during a trial readiness conference that was scheduled for Friday morning at Southwest Justice Center.

Proger was allegedly driving drunk the night of July 6, 2011, on Clinton Keith Road near Murrieta's northwestern city limits. Proger crashed his Toyota truck head-on with a car driven by Richard "Dick" Johnson, an 84-year-old longtime La Cresta rancher.

Proger, who is married with two children, has been out on $75,000 bail since he pleaded not guilty

A jury trial was scheduled to begin May 4. Defense attorney Michael Severo asked for more time to prepare, prompting a new trial readiness conference to be set for May 18.

Severo subpoenaed copies of reports from Inland Valley Medical Center, American Medical Response and California Department of Forestry, presumably to build a defense.

"That is very common," said John Hall, spokesperson for the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, about the defense's request.  "In order for justice to be done, defendants deserve a fair trial."

Johnson was pronounced dead at Inland Valley Medical Center about 40 minutes after the 8:50 p.m. crash on July 6, 2011, authorities said.

Proger suffered undisclosed injuries in the crash, and was also taken to Inland Valley. The Murrieta Police Department requested Proger be charged with DUI manslaughter once toxicology results from the night of the crash were obtained.

The District Attorney's office also filed sentence enhancing charges of habitual offender and committing a serious felony. Proger faces a maximum of 10 years in prison if convicted.

Several hundred turned out to comfort Johnson's family Johnson was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints community in Murrieta and a horseman.

A memorial bench in Johnson's honor was donated by the Riding Club of La Cresta. The bench, which sits on Avenida La Cresta past Bandito, was dedicated March 17 with about 100 people in attendance.