Former BPD officer whose 100 mph collision killed Grimmway worker gets felony probation, community service, in plea deal

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) –  Many lives changed forever in the pre-dawn hours of Jan. 19, 2023. One of those lives ended that terrible night.

A Bakersfield police cruiser, racing to assist in the apprehension of a reported stolen vehicle amid the orange groves and table grape vineyards north of Lamont – well outside Bakersfield city limits – slammed into two Grimmway farms workers driving home after their late-night shift. The driver, Mario Lares, died at the scene, and his passenger was grievously injured.

The police officer behind the wheel of the patrol car, Ricardo Robles – a green, 2-year-veteran, was charged with manslaughter.

Twenty-one months later, resolution.

On Thursday, Robles, age 25, pleaded no contest to a charge of vehicular manslaughter in connection with the deadly crash on South Vineland Road. He faces felony probation and 500 hours of community service. Robles’ attorney, David A. Torres, said it was vital that his client avoid prison. Former police officers, he said, do not fare well in that setting.

“You have to weigh these factors,” Torres said, “and I think that the way that we ultimately achieved this, was a reasonable disposition where he wouldn’t have to go to jail and he wouldn’t have to face harm there, but ultimately would serve the community through community service.”

Robles drove at speeds that at times exceeded 100 mph, and without his overhead flashing lights activated. He ran a stop sign at the intersection of South Vineland and Muller roads and slammed into the Honda Accord occupied by Mario Lares, 31, and passenger Ana Hernandez, 34 at the time. Lares was killed in the 2:20 a.m. collision. The Honda did not have a stop sign.

Prosecutor Cole McKnight said the conviction counts as a strike on Robles’ record.

“Police officers are entrusted with considerable authority in carrying out their duties to maintain the rule of law,” McKnight said in a statement from the DA’s office. “Police powers must be balanced by measures of accountability that ensure the responsible use of police authority. In this case, Robles certainly had no intent to cause the collision that had fatal consequences.

“Even so, he, like all drivers, had a responsibility to exercise care for other drivers on the road, which is something that all officers are trained for. When a driver, whether it be a member of the police or the public, causes death by actions that are grossly negligent, the law imposes felony consequences. This resolution meets the ends of justice by ensuring restitution for those impacted and holding the officer accountable for his felonious actions, while also recognizing that those convicted of non-DUI vehicular homicide crimes often do not have the same level of malicious criminal intent as is common in other homicide crimes.”

The offices of Daniel Rodriguez, who is representing the Lares family in a civil action, also released a statement.

“This officer killed a 31-year-old young man,” Rodriguez said, “and left a 35-year-old woman with a mangled body for the rest of her life. All because he chose to run a stop sign at night going 90 mph. He violated the law, and the police department rules he swore to follow. If this had been anyone other than a police officer, do you really think that person would be walking around free?”

As for any effect the plea deal might have on the family’s civil case, Rodriguez said: “It finally allows us to move forward so that the officer can’t hide behind the 5th Amendment. And now that there is a felony conviction, the law allows us to solidify the trial date to help our clients, who are fighters, to try and heal from this nightmare.”

Sentencing is set for Nov. 15.

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