Crime & Safety

Court Date Postponed for SSU Student Charged With Killing 2-Year-Old While Texting and Driving

Kaitlyn Dunaway's plea hearing was postponed Wednesday — the second week in a row.

Kaitlyn Dunaway's plea hearing was delayed yesterday — the second time in two weeks, according to officials at the Sonoma County Courthouse. Her next court date is scheduled for July 6 at 8:30 a.m. 

Dunaway faces up to one year of jail time for Dec. 1 while the two were walking through a crosswalk at the intersection of Medical Center Drive and Snyder Lane, after leaving the nearby Sunrise Park. 

Police have confirmed that Dunaway was when she hit the two.

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Editor's note, posted Sunday, Sept. 25. It has come to Patch's attention that use of a previously published photo of Kaitlyn Dunaway is unauthorized. Although Rohnert Park Patch was given consent by KTVU — Bob Swofford, managing editor of the Press Democrat, contacted us this week and notified us it was their photo and declined to give us permission to use it. We were unaware of this. 

An email sent May 19 to Patch from the news operations manager at KTVU stated: Here’s the photo—yours to use, as long as you credit KTVU. We bring this information forth in the interest of complete accuracy and transparency.

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dunaway's lawyer, Chris Andrian, requested more time to review information from crash reconstruction experts, and he said he's awaiting audio reports from police, before advising Dunaway to enter into a misdemeanor manslaughter plea, the Press Democrat reported yesterday.

The article quoted Andrian, saying “These are matters of science and expertise that I’m not qualified to decide,” Andrian said outside court after Judge Bradford Demeo granted a continuance to July 6. “It’s going to take a little longer.”

"Deputy District Attorney Craig Brooks said there was a significant amount of evidence to consider, including police reports, videotape statements and witness depositions," the article continued.

What do you think? Should Dunaway be tried for misdemeanor manslaughter charges?


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