Plea deal discussed in fatal Highway 12 crash

Prosecutors and lawyers for a Rohnert Park man accused in distracted-driving crash that killed two Santa Rosa women may announce a pretrial settlement Wednesday.

Both sides in the case of Nicholas Tognozzi, 30, met behind closed doors Tuesday with Judge Rene Chouteau to discuss the progress of negotiations before the Aug. 29 trial.

When they emerged, the judge ordered them to return to court the next day to disclose a possible resolution of the case.

Tognozzi’s attorney, Matt Freeman, said there is a 50-50 chance of reaching a plea bargain. He said Tognozzi and his family were considering a proposal and would announce a decision Wednesday morning.

Freeman would not discuss the terms of any agreement.

“I haven’t heard back from the family,” he said.

Tognozzi, who is free on bail, is charged with two counts of felony vehicular manslaughter for the March 15 crash that killed Sue Hufford, 53, and her mother-in-law, Sharon Hufford, 74.

Witnesses at his preliminary hearing said Tognozzi was driving on Highway 12 near where the freeway ends at Santa Rosa’s Farmers Lane when his pickup slammed into the back of the Huffords’ stopped car. The two women were in the back seat.

Evidence suggested Tognozzi took his eyes off the road just before impact to see if he had received a text message on his cellphone. He was driving more than 50 mph in a congested area.

The judge said his actions met the requirements for gross negligence allegations. He faces a dozen years in prison if convicted.

The prosecutor did not return a call Tuesday about a possible settlement.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.