• LBREPORT.com has learned that this afternoon, LBPD presented its evidence/materials to the L.A. County District Attorney's office in connection with the Los Cerritos triple-fatality (Awaida family) matter involving LBPD DUI-arrestee Carlo Navarro. DA Public Information officer Paul Eakins confirms that the case was presented to the DA's office this afternoon (Nov. 7) and is now under review [meaning for possible criminal case filing consideration.] On Oct. 31, LBPD arrested and booked Navarro, 20, of Long Beach on suspicion of DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter after the SUV he was driving struck (and ultimately killed) the Awaida family (father Joseph, mother Raihan and three-year old son Omar) as they walked in a Los Cerritos neighborhood.

• At a court hearing today (Nov. 7), LB City Prosecutor Doug Haubert's office filed a Declaration and argued in support of maintaining the $500,000 bail amount requested by the City Prosecutor's office on Nov. 5 and granted by the Court at that time. LBREPORT.com is told that a Public Defender represented defendant Navarro at today's hearing and chose not to contest the bail amount at this time (which can be revisited at any time) and Superior Court Judge Amy Yerkey maintained the $500,000 bail amount. This bail is connection with a June 2019 commercial burglary case filed and being handled by the LB City Prosecutor's office against Mr. Navarro (after the L.A. County DA's office declined to pursue felony charges in that matter. The next scheduled proceeding in the commercial burglary case (an arraignement) is scheduled for Dec. 4.

  The net result is that LB City Prosecutor Haubert's Nov. 5 motion to seek increased bail ($500k) resulted in putting Mr. Navarro back in jail on November 6 (after his Nov. 1 release on posting $100,000 bail following his Oct. 31 arrest on suspicion of DUI.) We presume that will remain unless/until Mr. Navarro posts that $500,000 bail amount (or successfully moves the Court to reduce the amount.)

  [Scroll down for further.]

The LB City Prosecutor's office is handling a June 30 commercial burglary case against defendant Navarro as the DA's office declined to file felony charges in that case. As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, LBPD PIO Jennifer DePrez has told LBREPORT.com:

On June 30, 2019 at approximately 3:50 a.m., officers responded to a burglary call in the 4500 block of California Ave. Upon arrival, officers observed a burglary in progress at a business located in the 900 block of E. 45th St. Officers located an adult male suspect outside the business The suspect, later identified as 20-year-old Carlo Navarro of Long Beach, was taken into custody and booked for commercial burglary, vandalism and possession of burglary tools and was held in the Long Beach City Jail on $20,000 bail. The reported loss was miscellaneous store merchandise...Detectives presented the case to the Los Angeles Count District Attorney’s Office in July [which] was deferred to the [LB] City Prosecutor's Office, which filed charges for misdemeanor burglary, vandalism and possession of burglary tools against Navarro.

The City Prosecutor's case charges Navarro with three misdemeanor counts: burglary, vandalism, and possession of burglary tools. Navarro faces a maximum of two and a half years in County jail if convicted on all counts.

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On October 31, 2019, LBPD arrested Mr. Navarro on suspicion of DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter after the vehicle he was driving struck the Awaida family while they were wallking in a Los Cerritos neighborhood. Mr. Awaida succumbed to his injuries at a hospital at some point on Oct. 31-Nov. 1. LASD records show LBPD arrested Mr. Navarro at 11:44 p.m. on Oct. 31, booked him at 4:15 a.m. on November 1, and LASD released him from custody at 9:42 p.m. on November 1 after he posted $100,000 bail. On November 2 and 3 respectively, the Awaida's three year old son Omar and mother Raihan succumbed to their injuries.

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The now-pending decision by the DA's office on possible criminal charge(s) against arrestee Navarro in the Oct. 31 Awaida triple fatality matter involves factual and legal decisions. The District Attorney's office (and any DA's office) must have a reasonable belief that it can prove the charges alleged at trial beyond a reasonable doubt. In addition, all prosecutors have a separate duty not merely to convict but also to seek justice (a just result within legal limits.)

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Further to follow. Continuing coverage on LBREPORT.com

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