Green receives year in jail for vehicular manslaughter

By Neal Putnam

A Ramona man who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated was sentenced to one year in jail for causing the death of his passenger, Mark Andrew Jones, in 2011.

According to the sheriff’s department, Harold Lee Green, Jr., 50, has a projected release date set for Sept. 14. His attorney, Paul Pfingst, unsuccessfully asked the judge at the April 17 sentencing if he could remain free on his own recognizance for several more days.

“Today’s the day,” said El Cajon Superior Court Judge John Thompson as he ordered Green remanded into custody.

Thompson suspended a six-year, eight-month prison term under conditions of five years probation. If Green violates any terms of probation, he could end up serving that sentence or a lesser one in prison. He was fined $1,224.

Deputy District Attorney Andrew Aguilar asked that Green be sentenced to five years in prison. He said that Green’s blood/alcohol level was .24, which is three times the legal limit. Teri Jones, the victim’s widow, also spoke.

Mark Jones, 52, of Ramona, was killed when he was ejected from Green’s 1970 Plymouth Barracuda on Nov. 13, 2011. Green was driving at a high rate of speed on Ashley Road from Telford Lane when he tried to turn.

The vehicle hit a street sign and then a retaining wall, which caused the car to overturn. Green also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and causing great bodily injury to another passenger, Michael McComack, 56. Green was also injured.