Former Capps aide facing 20 years to life
April 16, 2014
Raymond Morua
A former Lois Capps aide who is accused of causing a deadly collision in Santa Barbara is facing 20 years to life in prison after agreeing to a plea deal with prosecutors. [KSBY]
Raymond Morua, a former district staffer for Capps, pleaded guilty Tuesday to DUI gross vehicular manslaughter in the death of 27-year-old Mallory Dies, a popular Santa Barbara bartender. He also agreed to a count of leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death. In return for his plea, prosecutors dropped a murder charge.
Morua allegedly had a blood alcohol level of .17 after he struck Dies with his vehicle last December. After the collision, Morua fled the scene and crashed his car into a tree.
A judge will sentence the former congressional aide on May 28.
Capps issued a statement Tuesday following the announcement of the plea agreement.
“I am hopeful today’s court developments bring a small sense of peace to the family and friends of Mallory Rae Dies, and my thoughts and prayers remain with them,” Capps said. “I know what it is like to lose a child and no parent should have to experience that.”
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