Avary Pleads Guilty To DUI Fatality
Ojai resident and Oscar-winning screenwriter Roger Avary, who earlier pleaded not guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated resulting in a late-night car crash in Ojai on January 12, 2008, entered guilty pleas this week in Ventura County Superior Court.
According to court records, Avary, 44, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge and driving under the influence causing injury to more than one victim.
Andreas Zini, 34, a resident of Italy who was staying at the Avary residence, was killed at the scene of the early-morning crash when Avary’s car smashed into a telephone pole in front of Ojai Lumber. Avary’s wife, Gretchen, was reportedly injured after being thrown from the vehicle following impact.
Avary’s sentencing has been set for Sept. 29. He remains free on bail.
nice.
Not much being said now. Is everyone with the Avary’s enjoying some wine and other gut-busting booze? Celebrate now, I hope that meathead gets about 10-15 years.
Let’s hope Pillsbury isn’t that soft.
Nicolaus S – if “we” don’t need lynch-minded people in Ojai, what do we refer to Avary as, when he returns from prison…Killer-Proactive?
Keep us posted, you moron.
Nicolas,
Are you on the list?
Yes, I do drink but choose to stay home with my husband instead of going into town and socializing with Ojai’s own and driving home after a few drinks.
First of all this town is crawling with “the law” in the evening and we don’t want to gamble it. Second it really isn’t worth it. Once you realize that you will make the right choice. You do have a choice always remember that.
I have never driven drunk and never will. The bar shutle was a great idea as is taxi’s. Our local law enforcement has their hands full, lets help to lighten their load. Roger has this to live with for the rest of his life. Hopefully he will become an advocate for anti drinking and driving. Good usually does come out of bad. I would like to give him the benefit first before castrating. Let’s now keep our eye on our sex offender neighbors as they are lethal. Networking is our best offensive defense. Go to the Megan’s Law website like I did. I knew 3 of them! They were my customers here in Ojai. I replayed our conversations and was very creeped out. I had a young daughter around at that time. Be pro-active and informed as information is power. Ojai is awesome ! K
I missed out when did the DUV law come into effect? Hey Sommer is that a fact! MADD Pres. got a DUI? If its true WOW! what a slap in the face for that organization, also in some of your blogs, you really don’t care for law enforcement or is it just the ones in Ojai?
Nicolaus Sommer, thats not just a hurried typo because you are typing fast kind of error but more of a low light, communist error done over and over again.
Sommer,
This is taken out of your 8/21/09 blog: “What’s interesting, nobody here seems to know the circumstances but is a strong Nazi like Judge.”
You sure about that? Don’t bother trying to split the hairs on this one.
What is DUV? Driving under the vehicle?
No, he went to Chaparrel.
I thought Avary went to Thacher?
Roger will do his time, and come out with a cool new screenplay. In a way, he will be like Eric Stolz’s character in “Killing Zoé” just out of prison and back in the game.
Roger spent years behind the counter at Video Archives in Manhattan Beach. Prison is better.
From reading these blogs, I’ve gleaned that the majority of bloggers prefer a criminal system that eschews punishment in favor of remorseful criminals.
Sobriety checks catch drunk drivers. Now Russ if you are a drunk driver then you are probably concerned, but the average driver who is not driving drunk does not mind a short wait on a Saturday night if it saves lives. We need to make the penalties for drunk driving more severe. The death of Mr. Zini was preventable.
Check points are a stupid waste of time.
Its so obvious that Lynneth is Justice in disguise LOL.
Let’s have more sobriety checks in Ojai, but don’t publish ahead of time when and where they will be.
Honestly, I agree with Anonymous 3:41 (pm). You cannot POSSIBLY know what the Avary’s are going through, can you? And as they posted, you have at least driven drunk, been in a car with someone under the influence, or speeded. And calling Avary scum is a LITTLE harsh, is it not? I for one, happen to be close friends with his daughter, so I know how hard this is on them. Learn the facts, and how people feel, and then judge.
I would like to say, that honestly, none of you know anything about the subject. None of you were there the night of the accident, and no one truly knows what the family is going through currently at this time. Just stop criticizing before you get your facts straight. I’m sure that all of you, at least once in your lives, has driven drunk, or gone past the speed limit. He must of just been in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Anyone who has driven down that road where they are currently doing construction knows it’s a blind turn. I’m sure that none of you have ever gone through the legal system, but it’s a cruel thing. I’m sure that JUSTICE 11:35 (am), you would never want yourself hung high.
Justice, I live in Ojai Valley and I say Hoorah to you for some sense in this mess. Personally, I don’t drive drunk, and further more my vehicle doesn’t move unless all passengers are buckled up. Please excuse the hippees there are some people who live here who care about the town and advocate sobriety and a no drugs policy. Pulp fiction is an ignorant idiota.
Anonymous at 6:02 , intriguing idea, like a maltese falcon.
Reading these comments has made me realize that I live amongst total morons… ah, well. Carry on.
The OVS thing is a red herring to divert attention from Mr. Zini’s death and Mr. Avary’s guilt.
Did Roger Avary even attend OVS? I don’t think so . There is no mention of it in his Bio.
Whoever is using this blog to bash OVS , it sounds like you have issues to work out with the school. You’re mistaken to think people come to these blogs to determine whether a school is right for them or not. Especially one titled ‘Avary pleads guilty to manslaughter’. Oh its time to send Timmy to private school, I think I will read this blog about Avary to find out if thats a good idea!
This is a story about drunk driving and Mr. Avary pleading guilty to manslaughter. It is not about icebergs or teachers or asian kids from LA. You are nuts Truth Out.
What does Ojai Valley School have to do with Roger Avary’s fatal DUI crash? I’m confused.
One of the most outrageous recent OVS stories was concerning a young female student who was “abused” and the school tried desperately to cover it up. It’s a matter of legal record. Many parents got their kids the hell outta of there… Most of the students are the kids of “teachers” (who fail to teach to state standards yet get their kids in free) or problem kids from LA or Asian countries… Tip of the iceberg.
Avary should have a sobriety check point outside his house. How many OVS anchor baby teachers have been busted for intoxication in the last five years? It’s a joke. Ojai’s finally waking up. At last.
JUSTICE yes, we could tell you weren’t from Ojai. We don’t label people here with generalizations about their political party. If you lived here you would probably be surprised that many liberals and republicans and everyone in between hang out together and call each other friends. We won’t be missing you when you leave, your attitude towards others is one we can do without.
As somebody who doesn’t live in Ojai and only came upon the blog after visiting your town last month, I find many of the opinions here pretty weak. I always though Ventura County had a well-deserved reputation for being tough on crime and assumed Ojai residents were the same way.
What I really see happening here is that many are star struck by an academy award winner. The scumbag killed somebody because he was drunk and speeding.
Why are you defending this dirtbag? Who cares if he is remorseful? All that shows is that he is not a sociopath.
I labeled N.S. a liberal because he referred to anyone with a tough on crime approach as a Nazi. Calling someone a Nazi is such a typical ploy by liberals that it unfortunately dillutes the atrocities actually committed by Nazis.
N.S., I am not jumping to conclusions here about his guilt. He pled guilty. I don’t care where you think you fall on the political spectrum. This blog makes it clear you are a liberal when it comes to crime and punishment.
What does Ojai Valley School have to do with this, Lawrence? That’s a very bizarre thing for someone to say.
Does Ojai Police or Sheriffs ever conduct any sobriety check points?
Lawrence:
Sooooo…..Did Mr. Avary go to Ojai Valley School? Does the school somehow condone his behavior? What is your point?
Oddly , I feel fortunate for not having been counted in as one of Avarys friends. That would be like playing Russian roulette.
Maybe if Avary wrote a screenplay that didn’t encourage kids to do drugs and hurt others, then kharma wouldn’t have bit him so hard in the ass. What was Avary intoxicated with? Booze? Drugs? Ojai Valley School has sooo many skeletons in its closet…
I got a DUI 17 years ago. It was the best thing that could of happened to me. I learned and consequently stopped drinking. My friends changed. Drinkers tend to socialize with other drinkers. I am not saying all people need to stop drinking. Just stop driving when you have been drinking.
Anonymous 11:58:
Not everyone is likely to be out drinking and driving like you said in your comment, I do not drink and drive and would really appreciate it if you wouldn’t generalize (everyone ) as doing that. Oh wait a minute does that mean you do that (idiot)!!!
I am also NOT like NS. Nicolaus Sommer didn’t say what party he is JUSTICE. He’s probably a Republican.
I agree with Annonymous 11:58. Whats with the ‘wee lets go get drunk and then drive real fast’ mindset. Its people like Avery that give alcohol a bad name. Most of us don’t drive when we’re sh– faced.
You idiots, Andreas was a male. Avary’s wife was the one thrown from the car, but was not killed.
I do not agree with NS. Ever.
N.S.,
Way to stay true to form. You are nothing but a liberal excuse maker. Let me see if I have your defense right: Avary is not guilty of manslaughter because the deceased was “most likely” not seat belted in, ergo, it was her fault. Good one.
God bless everyone involved. Who are we to judge? I am deeply relieved that there is (finally) an end in sight to this most unfortunate situation. Peace.
Maybe after Mr. Avary’s prison term he could get involved in a community service program to address the problems of drunk driving in Ojai. It seems every Saturday night half the town is drinking and driving.
What happened to our D.A.? Bradbury would’ve hung ‘em high. Way to go soft and liberal, Totten, or should I call you the Pilsbury Doughboy?
still, it had to be hard knowing he was responsible for his friend’s death. rather than continue to deny and fight, it sounds like with this recent guilty plea, he is ready to face it.
Andreas is dead. I don’t know if that is closure. Mr. Avary will likely get 2 years.
I can only imagine the difficult year Mr. Avary has had, not to mention the family of the deceased. Thank you for pleading guilty and bringing closure to all concerned.
It’s been over a year and a half and this scum is still free on bail?