Manslaughter, drunk driving among charges

Less than half a mile from where her 6-year-old son died Tuesday night, Julie Ann Smith appeared in court Thursday on charges that her alleged drunk driving caused the crash that killed her youngest child.

Smith, 46, of Costa Mesa, was charged at Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach with gross vehicular manslaughter; child abuse and endangerment; and felony drunk driving causing bodily harm.

Tuesday night, Smith was driving home from a friend’s house with her son Trevor Smith in the car when witnesses said they saw her 1992 Lexus sedan speeding at 90 mph on the right shoulder of the Corona del Mar Freeway (73), police said.

Smith was allegedly attempting to pass cars on the right when her car struck the guardrail. The impact cut the car in half, and Trevor was thrown from the vehicle. He died at the scene.

Smith was treated for minor injuries and arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Cameron Talley said Smith is facing “very serious charges,” which could change because the accident is still being investigated.

Talley would not comment about Smith’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the accident, but said the district attorney’s office felt “comfortable” charging her with drunk driving. If convicted of the current charges, Smith could face a maximum of 10 years in prison, Talley said.

Talley said Smith is believed to have a misdemeanor drunk driving conviction in 1984.

Smith’s family, including her husband Andrew Smith, hugged and held hands as they sat inside the courtroom Thursday awaiting her appearance.

Smith appeared for less than a minute inside the in-custody box in the courtroom. Keeping her head down, she tried to shield herself from media cameras and did not look up at the rows of her friends and family.

As she was led into the box, some of the family members put on sunglasses and cried. Her husband appeared calm.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Craig Robison set Smith’s bail at $100,000. Talley said he felt the bail amount was appropriate, citing that Smith posed no flight risk.

Attorney Lolita Kirk, who represented Smith in court Thursday, said she was appearing on behalf of attorney Paul Meyer who had not yet been retained for the case.

“We will not be making any comment at this time,” Kirk said on behalf of the family.

Smith’s arraignment was continued to Aug. 24 at Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.