A member of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians who said he was high on methamphetamine when he ran his car into a boy and his grandmother was sentenced to 44 years for their deaths.
Joseph Anthony Barrientos, 27, was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, evading police and driving while intoxicated. He killed Pedro Romero, 9, and his grandmother, Martha Romero, 56, last July before leading police on a high-speed chase.
During the trial, Barrientos said he was high on meth when he ran his car into the Romero family. He said he ingested more meth on the police chase.
The incident occurred near Temecula, where the Pechanga Band is located.
Get the Story:Driver gets 44 years to life in Murrieta hit-run deaths (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 3/30)
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