The California Department of Justice’s forensic laboratory assisted with evidence

“Criminalists at California DOJ labs assist law enforcement with investigations and evidence.  Their work helps with the conviction or exoneration of suspects and is a tremendous tool in criminal justice.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

MENDOCINO COUNTY – On January 16, 2026, the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office announced that David Lee Roy McCarty, 39, of Redwood Valley, was found guilty of two felonies:

• driving a motor vehicle causing injury while under the influence of alcohol
• and driving a motor vehicle causing injury with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or greater.

The jury also found true sentencing enhancements that alleged the defendant inflicted great bodily injury on the driver of the victim vehicle, and that there were two additional passengers injured in the victim vehicle.

After the jury was excused, the defendant was ordered to return to court on January 23, 2026, the time and place for the prosecutor to present any additional evidence on aggravating factors to be applied when the case is later called for judgment and sentencing.

The two-vehicle collision, caused by the defendant not maintaining his lane of travel, occurred on and at the Green Bridge south of Hopland after midnight on September 23, 2023.

The law enforcement agencies that responded to the scene, assisted the injured, investigated the cause of the crash, and developed the evidence used at trial were the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Justice’s forensic laboratory.

The defendant, the driver of the victim vehicle, and the two passengers in the victim vehicle were transported that night to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Healdsburg General Hospital, and Adventist Health Ukiah Valley for immediate care by ambulance services operated by Ukiah Valley Fire and Medstar.

The prosecutor who prepared the case and presented the People’s evidence at trial was Senior Deputy District Attorney Luke Oakley.

Superior Court Judge Victoria Shanahan presided over the five-day trial.