Paso Robles teen receives 75 day sentence for cyclist’s death
Joseph Mondo will serve time in San Luis Obispo County Jail after judge ruling Thursday
–Paso Robles resident Joseph Mondo, 20, on Thursday received a 75-day jail sentence in San Luis Obispo County Jail, 50 hours community service and will pay restitution, reports say. Mondo hit and killed a cyclist in his GMC Yukon and severely injuring her companion while reaching for his cellphone on Nov. 28, 2014 on Nacimiento Lake Drive, when he was 18 years old.
Mondo pleaded no contest in March to two misdemeanor counts of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence and reckless driving for the November 2014 death of Lee Hekyung Craig, 62, of Los Angeles, reports say. Superior Court Judge Donald Umhofer on Thursday, sentenced Mondo to 30 days in San Luis Obispo County Jail, plus 45 days to be served consecutively for violating his probation. He will also have to perform 50 hours of community service and pay a yet-to-be-determined amount of restitution, reports say.
Lee Hekyung Craig, 62, of Los Angeles died after being hit on her Cervelo bicycle by a 2005 GMC Yukon driven by Mondo, a second rider, Lawrence Paul Chong, 59, of Seal Beach, was also struck in the accident while riding a Trek bicycle. Chong suffered major injuries in the accident and has undergone several surgeries.
The accident occurred at about 3:10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, on Nacimiento Lake Drive just east of Adelaida Road. Mondo was traveling westbound. He was distracted when his cell phone slid off his lap and he attempted to retrieve it. But before he was able to get it, he was forced to take evasive action to avoid a stopped vehicle preparing to make a left turn into a private driveway. Mondo steered on to the right shoulder around the turning vehicle and again attempted to retrieve his cell phone. As he reached for it, the Yukon veered onto the shoulder and struck the two bicyclists, he turned around at Adelaida Road, returned to the scene and, realizing he had hit the bicyclists, flagged down a passing car to call 911, as his phone turned out to be dead, reports say.
Craig was pronounced deceased at the scene. Chong was taken to Sierra Vista Hospital. Alcohol and drugs were not contributing factors. The CHP estimated Mondo was traveling about 60 mph in a 55 mph zone. The impact threw Craig 126 feet and Chong about 84 feet, reports say. Mondo was on probation for a misdemeanor exhibition of speed conviction from a month earlier, and had already received several infractions for speeding and other traffic-related offenses.
Mondo is scheduled to report to jail on July 15, reports say.
This sentence is a slap in the face to the family of Mr. Craig. This kid has a history of reckless driving and 75 days is all he gets. So unfair
Crime pays when you are a member of the Paso Ol'Boy Clique.
Really Peeps! people died! thats what he gets! something is wrong here
Yea this sentence is bull shit he went for his phone twice first time almost hitting a car then the second time he kills a man he should of been charged with vehicular manslaughter not a 75 day sentence this is so absurd and wrong and just sends a message that you can break the law and kill a man and only do 21/2 months what a joke
What do you know about this kid all the way over in alabama? Was an accident
I wonder if this was the maximum sentence or the judge was lenient–a slap on the wrist for someone's death and another's critical injury!
Thomas Wright – I did know this kid and this was no accident. This was an event just waiting to happen. When I had this kid as one of my students in high school, Joey as he was called, knew his parents would back him up every time in got in trouble. I actually caught him with weed in my class but don't you know? The school didn't punish him one bit. They knew who his parents were. He would come to class with attitude and anger in hand for no reason other than his weed habit that influenced his behavior. Once I had to take his cell phone away because of his abusive use in class and I can still see that hateful look he gave me but it seemed he could never get in trouble for his actions. Fast forward today and Here now is another example of him knowing his wine mommy and daddy would bail him out once again. Honestly it is a damn shame he was never held responsible for his actions back then. Maybe these poor people would still be alive and well if he was taught a stern lesson. Read the last part of his already trouble with his driving, speeding and 'other traffic related' incidents.
My favorite part in reading this report is where it states Joey was 'traveling about'' not speeding, over the speed limit. Sounds better huh?
Reality was he was speeding and distracted twice. He KILLED a human being reach fir his cell phone!
I hope they sue. Really good.
Oh and don't forget a fine standing member of the wine community using all of our precious water while the rest of us pay the price! Oh just like that poor lady that paid the price for being in the way of the Mondo boy.
This is fu°°ed 75 days! I've been sentenced more for bs and I've never killed anyone this is bs
Yeah, fuck ALL of you. He made a mistake. His fucking phone was DEAD. have you not dropped a water bottle and gone to retrieve it? It was an inatamate object at that point because it was dead. Same fucking shit. Chris, AUTUMN, and all the rest of you need to keep your bullshit ass opionons to yourselves. Fuck off.
This sentence is a slap in the face to the family of Mr. Craig. This kid has a history of reckless driving and 75 days is all he gets. So unfair
Crime pays when you are a member of the Paso Ol'Boy Clique.
Really Peeps! people died! thats what he gets! something is wrong here
Yea this sentence is bull shit he went for his phone twice first time almost hitting a car then the second time he kills a man he should of been charged with vehicular manslaughter not a 75 day sentence this is so absurd and wrong and just sends a message that you can break the law and kill a man and only do 21/2 months what a joke
What do you know about this kid all the way over in alabama? Was an accident
I wonder if this was the maximum sentence or the judge was lenient–a slap on the wrist for someone's death and another's critical injury!
Thomas Wright – I did know this kid and this was no accident. This was an event just waiting to happen. When I had this kid as one of my students in high school, Joey as he was called, knew his parents would back him up every time in got in trouble. I actually caught him with weed in my class but don't you know? The school didn't punish him one bit. They knew who his parents were. He would come to class with attitude and anger in hand for no reason other than his weed habit that influenced his behavior. Once I had to take his cell phone away because of his abusive use in class and I can still see that hateful look he gave me but it seemed he could never get in trouble for his actions. Fast forward today and Here now is another example of him knowing his wine mommy and daddy would bail him out once again. Honestly it is a damn shame he was never held responsible for his actions back then. Maybe these poor people would still be alive and well if he was taught a stern lesson. Read the last part of his already trouble with his driving, speeding and 'other traffic related' incidents.
My favorite part in reading this report is where it states Joey was 'traveling about'' not speeding, over the speed limit. Sounds better huh?
Reality was he was speeding and distracted twice. He KILLED a human being reach fir his cell phone!
I hope they sue. Really good.
Oh and don't forget a fine standing member of the wine community using all of our precious water while the rest of us pay the price! Oh just like that poor lady that paid the price for being in the way of the Mondo boy.
This is fu°°ed 75 days! I've been sentenced more for bs and I've never killed anyone this is bs
Yeah, fuck ALL of you. He made a mistake. His fucking phone was DEAD. have you not dropped a water bottle and gone to retrieve it? It was an inatamate object at that point because it was dead. Same fucking shit. Chris, AUTUMN, and all the rest of you need to keep your bullshit ass opionons to yourselves. Fuck off.