A Santa Rosa woman has been sentenced to a stint in state prison for three years and three months on charges including felony leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death after a tragic event that claimed the life of a young man last August 2022. The Honorable Mark Urioste handed down the sentence, as reported by the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office.
Allisa Marie Whitten, 35, was also convicted of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, among other charges. According to the district attorney’s release, Whitten had no valid driver's license when her Buick SUV struck 18-year-old Oswaldo Mario-Rogilio Cardenas, Jr., who had just been fishing with friends along River Road.
Whitten reportedly got out of her car after the accident and, despite being urged to call 911 by one of the victim's friends, failed to do so and instead fled the scene. She maneuvered past multiple California Highway Patrol officers involved in a concurrent marathon without reporting the incident, later hiding her SUV and setting it on fire in San Francisco after discussing the situation with a friend.
Having failed to turn herself in despite advice from several of her friends over six days, law enforcement officials were compelled to issue an arrest warrant for Whitten. District Attorney Carla Rodriguez extended condolences to the victim's family and said, "We filed every charge that was supported by the admissible evidence in this case and sought the maximum sentence allowed under the law."
Whitten's no-contest plea in November 2023 was without a sentencing agreement, meaning the prosecution could recommend the maximum sentence of four years and six months. Deputy District Attorney Jamie Kandel and DA Investigator David Linscomb prosecuted the case, with CHP Officer Vicencio and Sergeant Cyril Ruffin heading the investigation that brought justice for the senseless act.
