BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A courtroom was assigned Thursday morning for the trial of Alan Lewis Booth, who faces felony assault and drunken driving charges in connection with the crash at the 2023 Bakersfield Christmas Parade.
In an unusual move, a misdemeanor case against Booth — he was charged with DUI in a separate incident months after the crash — will be heard before the felony case.
It’s common for defendants facing both felony and misdemeanor cases to stand trial on the more serious charges first.
In this instance, however, Booth’s attorney, Jeremy Brehmer, said he’s ready for trial in the misdemeanor case, but still needs to subpoena witnesses and meet with Booth to review discovery materials in the felony case.
Prosecutor Brandon Stallings said he’s ready for trial in both cases.
To get proceedings moving, both cases were assigned to Judge Brian M. McNamara, with the trial on the misdemeanor case, estimated to last six to eight days, to be held first.
Booth will then stand trial in the felony case. That trial is expected to last about 10 days.
According to police reports, Booth had a blood-alcohol content of 0.28%, more than three times the legal limit, when he reversed his pickup at high speed and hit several people at the parade on Dec. 7, 2023.
He was released on bail.
In April 2024, Booth was arrested at a car dealership on Oak Street after police received a report of an intoxicated man in the business who appeared to have urinated on himself, court documents said.
Booth told officers he drank a single shot of vodka before driving to the dealership to get a tire on his Ford Escape fixed.
A preliminary test revealed Booth’s BAC at 0.24%, documents said. He was charged with misdemeanor DUI and has remained in custody since.
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