Following deliberations of 6 1/4 hours over two days, a jury on March 5 acquitted a sailor of second-degree murder but convicted him of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in the death of a Point Loma woman.
The wife, mother, and other relatives of Eric Deangelo Ramos Cortez, 26, wept upon hearing the not-guilty verdict of murder stemming from the 2021 death of Sarah Lombardi, 54, at 11:30 p.m. on Interstate 8.
Both his attorney, Jay Monico, and Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams said afterward Ramos faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. Monico said he is ineligible for probation and the minimum sentence may be four years.
“The jury deliberated and came back with a just verdict,” said Monico. “He is ready to accept the consequences of gross vehicular manslaughter.”
“Mr. Ramos has always been remorseful about the events of Dec. 20, 2021,” said Monico. “He wished he could take them back.”
Lombardi worked at Kansas City Barbecue, a downtown restaurant for 26 years. She was driving home from work at 11:30 p.m. on Interstate 8 just east of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard when her car was struck head-on by Ramos’ Subaru Outback SUV.
“He was held to a higher standard,” said Monico, adding that his Navy service caused him to be judged more harshly. “He should be seen as anyone else.”
The prosecutor had mentioned the stereotype of “the drunken sailor” in her closing argument and said the Navy had taken “active steps” to address alcohol abuse. Williams said safety briefings against alcohol and drugs were common.
The seven-man, five-woman jury left the courthouse without discussing the verdict with any of the attorneys. The trial lasted a week. Ramos did not testify and his attorney did not call any witnesses.
“The jury performed their service and found him not guilty of count one,” said Williams afterward.
Ramos pleaded guilty last year to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and DUI, but was allowed to withdraw his plea because a sentence about reduced credits was mistakenly crossed out on the plea form. He had been limited to a maximum 11-year, 8-month term.
He withdrew his guilty plea so he could stand trial, but that was a very risky move. If convicted of murder, Ramos would have had to serve a full 15 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole, and might not be released until he was in his 40s or 50s.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Evan Kirvin set sentencing for July 17 after Ramos waived his right to have a speedy sentencing. He has been in jail without bail since May 6, 2022, when charges were filed.
Williams told jurors that Ramos “deliberately acted with conscious disregard for life” after downing nine drinks at a bar before crashing into Lombardi’s Toyota Camry.
She reminded jurors about the brief video Ramos made on his cellphone in which he said he was “about to play my favorite game” in which he talked about getting drunk and hoping to be able to drive home OK before alcohol affected his driving.
Williams said Ramos’ blood/alcohol level was .18, which is twice the level needed for felony drunk driving.
“He drove past wrong-way signs and indicators. He chose not to follow his training,” argued Williams. “Mr. Ramos knew drinking and driving was dangerous to human life.”
Monico told jurors that “everyone knows drinking and driving is dangerous to human life.” He described the fatality as “a tragic accident” and it was “not a black heart type of case.”
Ramos worked as an electrician in the Navy for two years.
