13-year sentence in Modesto store crash

Bee Staff Reports

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Seberino Villareal III, 42, of Modesto was sentenced to 13 years in prison after he struck two pedestrians with his car and crashed through the doors of a neighborhood market, killing the store's owner.

Villareal was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and three enhancements charging that he committed bodily injury to more than one victim.

At 5:40 p.m. Feb. 24, 2007, Villareal was driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.10. As he drove west on Paradise Avenue, Villareal's Dodge pickup struck two pedestrians in the crosswalk, injuring both. One of the pedestrians suffered a broken hip.

Villareal continued westbound, crashing through the front doors of the Stop-n-Save Market on Jefferson Street. Three people in the store were injured, including the store owner, Harbans Singh, and two of his family members. Singh was pinned under the vehicle as rescue workers attempted to free him. On March 18, 2007, Singh died from his injuries.

Among the other sentences and convictions announced recently by the Stanislaus County district attorney's office:

- Robert Paul Adkins, 34, of Modesto was sentenced to three years in state prison after being convicted of home--invasion robbery and petty theft.

On July 4, Adkins went to the home of a 75-year-old victim he knew and knocked on the door. When the victim opened the door, Adkins pushed the victim down, taking about $20 and medication that belonged to the victim. On July 19, Adkins stole a bottle of Benadryl from Save Mart on H Street in Modesto.

- Henry Hernandez Martinez Jr. of Modesto was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of residential burglary. On July 28, Martinez broke into the apartment of an acquaintance in downtown Modesto. He was caught tossing DVDs out of the apartment window and fled. He was arrested two months later.

- Richard Allan Michel II, 37, of Modesto faces up to six months in jail because he struck a Garton Tractor employee in the ribs with a flashlight after the man accidentally drove onto his property.

On Aug. 13, 2008, in Waterford, the employee, Felipe Maldonado, got lost and drove onto Michel's property by mistake. Michel confronted Maldonado and called 911 when Maldonado refused to abandon his work truck and walk off the property. Michel struck Maldonado in the ribs with a flashlight, then called 911 a second time, stating that law enforcement no longer was needed.