Fresno Woman Sentenced to 15 Years to Life in Fatal DUI Murder Case

On Tuesday, a 33-year-old Fresno woman was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison for second-degree murder in a fatal 2021 impaired driving crash that killed a 65-year-old Fresno woman.

Leigha Linae Addington was sentenced following her conviction in an April 15 jury trial that ended with jurors deliberating for less than one hour before finding her guilty on all counts and allegations, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

She was convicted of second-degree murder, driving on a suspended license causing injury, and driving with a blood alcohol concentration above .01% while on probation for DUI. Jurors also found six aggravating factors true, prosecutors said.

The sentence was imposed by Fresno County Superior Court Judge Gabriel Brickey, who presided over the trial. Members of the victim’s family attended both the trial and sentencing.

About the DUI Incident

Prosecutors said that on April 17, 2021, just before 5 p.m., Addington was driving westbound on Highway 180 near Cornelia Avenue when her GMC Sierra drifted onto the right dirt shoulder. She then overcorrected, crossed into oncoming traffic, and struck a vehicle driven eastbound by Brenda Sue Ricci.

Ricci suffered catastrophic injuries and died nearly a month later.

Officials said California Highway Patrol officers determined Addington was under the influence. A preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.26%. Subsequent blood testing also detected cocaine and tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive component of marijuana.

Suspect Had 2 Prior DUI Convictions

Addington had two prior DUI convictions, including one in Stanislaus County on January 29, 2021, less than three months before the crash. She was on DUI probation at the time of the collision and was required to use an ignition interlock device. Prosecutors said she had previously been warned that driving under the influence could lead to murder charges if someone was killed.

During sentencing, Ricci’s family described her as a loving wife, sister, aunt and friend whose kindness and generosity left a lasting impact, prosecutors said.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Steven Ueltzen with assistance from Senior District Attorney Investigator Randall Paulson as part of the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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