Ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers and current Pearl Jam touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffer has avoided jail by taking a plea deal in the case where he failed to yield while driving and accidentally struck and killed a pedestrian last year.
Rolling Stone reports that Klinghoffer pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence in an Alhambra, California courtroom on Wednesday. He was sentenced to one year of informal probation and 60 days of community labor. He also must complete a driver safety class and pay restitution to be determined at a later date.
Prosecutors filed the charges against Klinghoffer last August after the March 18th, 2024 accident where his vehicle struck pedestrian Israel Sanchez in a crosswalk. Sanchez was pronounced dead at a hospital later that day.
After Klinghoffer entered his plea Wednesday, a prosecutor read an advisement that said, “If you continue to drive while distracted, and as a result of your driving someone is killed, you can be charged with murder." Klinghoffer said he understood.
Sanchez’s family filed a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against Klinghoffer last July, claiming he was on his cellphone and driving a car with no plates when the incident occurred. A hearing in that case is set for July 1st.