19-year-old driver facing second-degree murder charges

A 19-year-old driver learned on May 18 that he is facing two second-degree murder charges in the deaths of his two passengers while he was allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs in Torrey Pines.

Christopher Ray Schmittel, who is recovering from injuries in the April 25 incident, appeared on a video screen from jail while seated in a chair and wearing jail clothes and a white mask as his lawyer spoke.

He pleaded not guilty to the deaths of Johnny Punzalan, 19, and Joshua Manzanares, also 19, who are both from Lake Elsinore. Schmittel is also charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in the two deaths.

Schmittel is also charged with driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol in the injuries to two other teen-age passengers when his Subaru WRX crashed through a guardrail at 13000 N. Torrey Pines Road and went off a ledge. The vehicle rolled down an embankment and landed on the beach below. He was believed to be driving at a high rate of speed.

Schmittel was arrested on May 15 by the Fugitive Task Force at his home in Moreno Valley in Riverside County after his release from the hospital.

Schmittel’s lawyer said he wanted a bail review on June 1, so no discussion on bail was heard Wednesday. San Diego Superior Court Judge Laura Halgren kept the no bail figure and Schmittel remains at the Vista Detention Facility.

An Oct. 5 preliminary hearing was set. If he’s ordered to stand trial for murder, a jury would have the option to convict either of second-degree murder or vehicular manslaughter. Two second-degree murder convictions would carry terms of 30 years to life in prison.

Afterward, Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams said “the investigation is still ongoing” when asked about what other drugs may have been in Schmittel’s system. Not all of the lab work is finished.

The families of the two deceased victims and Schmittel attended the arraignment.

“I want to get the message out there: Don’t drink and drive,” said Angeliena Rosales, the sister of Johnny Punzalan, to reporters afterward.

“Maybe other teenagers will learn from this,” said Rosales, adding that some of the victims in the car were also not wearing seat belts.

When asked about the second-degree murder charges, Rosales said, “I feel they are strong charges.

“He was my baby brother…He wanted to be a teacher,” said Rosales. “Then after COVID, he wanted to be a nurse.”

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