A young drunk driver whom a jury convicted of second-degree murder in the deaths of two passengers in Torrey Pines was sentenced on Aug. 30 to 32 years to life in state prison.
Numerous family members of Joshua Manzanares and Johnny Punzalan, both 19 and from Lake Elsinore, gathered to speak about their loss in the April 25, 2022, crash in which Manzanares and Punzalan were thrown from the car and were killed.
Three in the car survived, including the drunk driver, Christopher Ray Schmittel, now 21, of Moreno Valley, who sat at a table wearing jail clothes with his lawyer, Sean Jones.
Jones told San Diego Superior Court Judge Lisa Rodriguez the trip started with “five boys having fun.” Schmittel was driving a Subaru WRX in the 13000 block of North Torrey Pines Road in the Torrey Preserve neighborhood and crashed through a metal guardrail, landing on Torrey Pines Beach.
Jones initially asked for probation, which was ruled out by the judge immediately. Jones asked that Schmittel be sentenced to one concurrent term of 15 years to life for second-degree murder, instead of two consecutive terms to total 30 years.
“He’s a 19-year-old kid. He thinks about this every day,” said Jones. “Give Mr. Schmittel an opportunity to live…to not just waste in a jail cell. I believe in Christopher.”
Christopher Schmittel turned around and faced the audience. “I’m sorry. I haven’t had the chance to apologize,” he said, alluding to that he has been in jail since the crash.
“I do think about that every day – all the heartache I’ve caused,” said Schmittel. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
His mother, Laurie Schmittel, said, “These group of boys were always together (before) this awful accident. Our heart breaks for them too…Our son made reckless choices.”
“We pray for healing,” said his father Daniel Schmittel. “He has never been in trouble with the law.”
Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams opposed Jones’ request and asked for a sentence of 36 years to life in prison.
The judge turned down the request for concurrent sentences, telling Jones “Two 19-year-olds lost their lives.”
“This crime was so serious… if not imprisoned, Mr. Schmittel will be considered a danger to others,” said Rodriguez, adding he showed “a high degree of callousness.”
“We don’t know why Mr. Schmittel was so casual with his life or others,” said Rodriguez. “On the stand, he showed little remorse.”
“He knew the risks and took them,” said the judge. “That’s what makes this a murder.”
Rodriguez added two years to the 30-year term for his conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Angeliena Rosales, Punzalan’s sister, wore a shirt with her brother’s photo on it and told the judge, “April 25 is the most horrible day of my family’s life.”
“He left this world having a great time. If you love someone, hold them as long as you can,” said Rosales.
Afterward, Rosales said her parents were too grief-stricken to attend the sentencing. She said she thought the sentence “is kinda harsh” but “he has to face the consequences.”
Rodriguez told Schmittel and his parents there is a youthful offender parole law that he may be able to use someday in the future, “depending on how he betters himself,” in prison.
Looking right at Schmittel, Rodriguez said, “We’re hoping you will grow and learn… Use your time wisely. You have a tremendous amount of support.”
Jones asked Rodriguez to make a recommendation that he be housed in the California Fire Camp. Rodriguez said she would make the recommendation while acknowledging that it is not up to her, but rather prison officials who would make a decision. Officials never allow someone convicted of a homicide to enter fire camp.
Schmittel was given credit for 806 days spent in jail since his arrest. After nearly four days of deliberations, the jury also convicted him on June 25 of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and multiple counts of DUI with injury to two other passengers. He was fined $1,110.
