The State : Drunk Driver Gets 30 Years

A drunk driver was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for killing three members of a Susanville family on California 395 in December, 1987. Gary LaBranch, 27, of Rescue, in El Dorado County, had four previous drunk driving convictions when his pickup truck plowed into oncoming traffic near Susanville, killing Raymond Ellena; his wife, Darlene, and his mother-in-law, Clara Clark. Investigators said LaBranch’s blood-alcohol level was 0.23%, more than twice the legal limit. LaBranch was tried in Butte County Superior Court, where the proceeding was transferred because of heavy publicity in Lassen County. Judge Roger Gilbert sentenced him to 15 years to life for two of three second-degree murder convictions, to run consecutively. A sentence of 15 years to life on a third count is to be served concurrently.