Driver in Fatal Race Gets Probation

VAN NUYS —  A Sylmar man convicted of involuntary manslaughter for participating in a drag race that claimed the lives of three of his friends was sentenced Wednesday to three years’ probation and required to spend 250 hours talking to others about his crime.

Kenneth Acosta, 21, pleaded no contest earlier this month to two counts stemming from the March 4 accident that killed Shannon Haupt, 20, Michael Encinas and Pablo Munoz--both 18.

He faced up to two years in County Jail before defense attorney James Barnes reached a settlement with the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

In a courtroom filled with sobbing relatives of the deceased, Superior Court Judge Meredith C. Taylor also prohibited Acosta from driving--other than to and from school and work--during his probation. He must also repay the victim’s families for funeral costs.

“I understand I broke the law speeding. Basically, that’s all I did wrong,” a relieved Acosta said after the proceedings. “The main lesson I learned is respect what you have” before it’s gone, he said, referring to the loss of his friends.

Some relatives of the victims had argued for jail time.

“I don’t think it was right,” said Hector Munoz, brother of Pablo Munoz. “They let him off too easily.”

The district attorney’s office had considered filing second-degree murder charges that could have sent Acosta to prison. Dale Cutler, the deputy district attorney who handled the case, said, “We spent a lot of time kicking this case around. Right or wrong, I felt that was the best resolution.”

According to court records, the night of the accident Acosta went with girlfriend Kathleen Blauvelt to a Northridge restaurant for dinner and was joined by Haupt, Encinas and Munoz--all three former members of the Sylmar High School marching band.

After dinner, Acosta and Blauvelt left in a Honda Prelude. Haupt and Encinas left in a Nissan Maxima driven by Munoz.

On the transition road from the 118 Freeway to the eastbound Foothill Freeway, Acosta and Munoz began racing at speeds of nearly 100 mph, according to the district attorney’s office.

Munoz swerved to avoid slower traffic and the car flew 400 feet off the highway into a drainage ditch below.

Acosta stopped his car and sped back against traffic to try to rescue his friends, Blauvelt told California Highway Patrol officers.

Encinas had attended Cal State Northridge and wanted to become a doctor. Munoz had enlisted in the Marines. Haupt was training to operate rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Wednesday, as relatives of the dead sobbed in the back of the courtroom, Cutler read some of their letters while others spoke themselves.

“He’s not Pablo’s friend,” Alicia Munoz--Pablo Munoz’s sister--said, challenging Acosta’s statement that he was a close friend of all the dead.

“We miss her beyond description,” Theale Haupt wrote of his daughter Shannon. He and others wept as Cutler read a portion of the letter describing a small lock of hair the coroner had released to the family as a memento.

“We believe he should go to prison,” Theale Haupt said.

But in another letter, Richard Encinas--Michael Encinas’ father--argued for leniency.

“Incarceration would serve no purpose but destroy another life,” he wrote. “This is what Michael would have wanted me to do.”

Taylor cited Acosta’s lack of criminal record in imposing the sentence.

“This case is a tragedy,” she said. “Truth be known, there should be five people before the court. . . . Everyone who was voluntarily involved knew each was risking his or her life. I regret the families won’t know the promise of [the victims’] lives.”

Acosta sat attentively. When Taylor asked if he understood the conditions of his sentencing, he said, “Yes, ma’m.”

Some relatives wept as they left the courtroom.

“We have to bring it to a closure,” Theale Haupt, overcome by tears, said in the hall. “We’ll have to struggle through the holidays . . . we’ll get there.”