Modesto, Ceres men get prison in separate DUI cases

A Modesto man and a Ceres man have been sentenced to prison in separate DUI cases, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office reported Friday.

James Michael Knudson, 28, of Modesto was sentenced to four years for felony driving under the influence. On April 5, 2015, a Modesto police officer stopped Knudson for speeding in the area of Ohio Avenue and Beverly Drive in west Modesto. Knudson failed several field sobriety tests and a chemical test put his blood alcohol content at 0.16 to 0.18 percent – twice the legal limit.

Thursday, Knudson pleaded no contest. He admitted having three prior drunken-driving convictions from 2006, 2008 and 2012. He also admitted having been previously convicted in 2013 of assault with a firearm, a “strike” under California’s “three-strikes” law that could be used to double his sentence. In a plea agreement, Judge Linda McFadden sentenced Knudson to the four years in state prison.

Paresh C. Amin, 65, of Ceres was sentenced to two years and eight months in state prison for felony DUI causing injury and hit-and-run causing injury. On Jan. 15, 2015, Amin was driving on Tully Road in Modesto, failed to stop at the Kiernan Avenue intersection and hit another car.

Stacy Mullins suffered various injuries as a result of the crash, and Amin fled the scene.

California Highway Patrol officers quickly identified Amin as the driver and located him. He admitted to drinking alcohol before driving and leaving the scene, and a chemical test determined his blood alcohol level was 0.13 percent.

On Dec. 18, Amin pleaded no contest to the felony charges. He also admitted having two DUI convictions from 2009 and 2010. On Feb. 22, through a plea agreement, Judge Ricardo Córdova sentenced Amin to two years and eight months in prison.

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 11:40 AM with the headline "Modesto, Ceres men get prison in separate DUI cases."