Man Charged With Manslaughter In Santa Ana Halloween Hit-And-Run

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — The man accused of killing three teenage girls in a Halloween hit-and-run accident was charged Tuesday with felony manslaughter and several other counts.

Jaquinn Bell, 31, faces three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, one felony count of -hit-and-run with permanent injury or death, one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license, with sentencing enhancement allegations for personally inflicting great bodily injury, and fleeing the scene of a crime after committing a vehicular manslaughter, the Orange County District Attorney's Office said.

If convicted, the Orange resident faces a maximum of 17 years in state prison.

Bell is accused of fatally hitting twin sisters — Lexi and Lexandra Perez — and their friend Andrea Gonzalez, all 13 years old, as they were trick-or-treating Friday evening in the 1400 block of East Fairhaven Avenue.

His damaged black 2001 Honda SUV was found a short distance from where the accident occurred.

An investigation led authorities to a motel Sunday where Bell was arrested. He appeared in court Monday when his bail was increased from $500,000 to $1 million. The arraignment was scheduled to be continued on Dec. 16.

Bell, who has had prior arrests for crimes including DUI, child endangerment and domestic abuse, was driving without a license at the time of the accident.