A jury convicted 28-year-old Denis Pereria Demacedo Monday in San Mateo County Superior Court on eight charges in the deaths of a woman and her two sons in March of last year.
The jury deliberated for three days before handing down a conviction for three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of felony
vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and while driving under the influence of alcohol and other charges.
According to the San Mateo District Attorney's office, Demacedo got behind the wheel of his car at about 8 p.m. March 9, 2013, after about five hours of drinking beer with friends.
Before the crash that killed the woman and her sons, Demacedo rear-ended a car stopped at a stop sign. Instead of stopping, Demacedo drove off and accelerated to 60 miles per hour along Eastmoor Drive before broadsiding the victims' car and pushing it 150 feet.
A fourth passenger in the victim's vehicle was severely injured and hospitalized, according to prosecutors.
Public Defender Geoff Carr said his client panicked after the rear-end collision, but he "did the right thing" after the broadside
collision. Carr said Demacedo stopped and asked that police be called immediately.
"He was crying about them," Carr said. Police told Carr Demacedo was "inconsolable" in the police car. Carr said Demacedo showed remorse from the time of accident until the end of the trial.
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Prosecutors say Demacedo faces 25 years to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 23.
