Arraignment in fatal crash

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A Denair man who is suspected of having been drunk when he lost control of his sport utility vehicle, leading to the death of a passenger, was arraigned this week in Stanislaus County Superior Court, the district attorney's office said.

Ryan Honnette, 27, a former Stockton police officer in training, was arraigned on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and driving with a blood alcohol percentage of 0.08 or more causing injury.

The last two charges have enhancements alleging Honnette's blood alcohol exceeded 0.15 percent. Honnette was arrested Oct. 18 after the crash west of La Grange. The man killed was Matthew Miller, 25, of Turlock.

A pretrial conference will take place Dec. 10. If convicted, Honnette could face a maximum of 10 years and eight months in prison, the district attorney's office said. Honnette was driving a 2000 Ford Excursion south on Lake Road with four other men, including Miller, who was sitting in the middle of the back seat and not wearing a seat belt, said officer Tom Killian, a California Highway Patrol spokesman. When Honnette lost control, Miller was thrown from the vehicle, Killian said.