Suspect in DUI case may be seeking plea deal

Early plea negotiations are under way for the defendant in a suspected drunken-driving wreck that seriously injured two teenage girls standing at a bus stop last Saturday morning.

In court Friday for his second appearance, Michael Tweedie, 35, of Santa Rosa again postponed entering pleas to two counts of hit-and-run, felony drunken driving causing injury and reckless driving.

Instead, his lawyer negotiated with prosecutors on a potential plea deal.

The case is being handled in the Sonoma County court’s new early resolution courtroom, where attorneys discuss possible ways of resolving criminal cases before they begin what can be a time-consuming and sometimes cumbersome path through the trial-court process.

Tweedie was arrested last Saturday afternoon, several hours after police say his truck crashed, flipped several times and careened into the two girls at a bus stop on Yulupa Avenue. Their father narrowly escaped injury.

One girl, Cruz Pineda, 13, remains at Children’s Hospital in Oakland with severe injuries. She was upgraded to fair condition Friday, indicating that she is conscious, said Diana Yee, Children’s Hospital spokeswoman. She would not elaborate on the teen’s injuries.

Her sister, Deysi Pineda, 15, was released from Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital on Tuesday and is recovering from serious injuries, including several broken bones.

Tweedie has three DUI convictions in Sonoma County, according to court records, and has completed the county’s DUI education program three times. He has also been sentenced to short stays in jail and addiction treatment.

In court Friday, Judge Elliot Daum declined to reduce Tweedie’s $190,000 bail. He remains in custody at Sonoma County Jail.

Daum asked Tweedie’s attorney, Martin Woods, and prosecutor Craig Brooks whether there had been any effort to resolve the case.

“We stand ready to resolve the matter at the court’s discretion,” Woods said.

Brooks said he didn’t believe any plea offers had been extended to Tweedie, making the only option available admitting all of the charges as they stand.

Conviction on all charges could mean several years in prison for Tweedie because two of his three convictions have come within the past decade and can be counted as priors when determining a sentence.

During Friday’s hearing, the judge and both attorneys talked behind closed doors for more than 30 minutes discussing legal options. They made no announcements following the meeting.

But Woods requested the case stay in the early resolution court for a hearing Wednesday when the case could be settled.

Tweedie didn’t speak in court except to say, “I do, your honor” when Daum asked if he waived his right to speedy hearings.

Outside court, Woods declined to describe any plea negotiations or whether Tweedie is considering admitting the crimes as charged.

“It’s in the best interests of the victims’ family and that of Mr. Tweedie to have discussions as early as possible about the acceptance of responsibility,” he said.

A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking further explanation of the plea talks.

Tweedie has misdemeanor DUI convictions from incidents in 1996, 1999 and 2004. He has also been convicted of being drunk in public several times, including in 1995, 2002 and 2003; on drug charges in 2001 and 2004; and on weapons charges in 2002.

A trust account has been opened for anyone wishing to help defray costs for the two girls and their family. Donations may be made at any Exchange Bank branch to the Deysi and Cruz Pineda trust account.