Wealthy California socialite and philanthropist Rebecca Grossman was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life in prison for the 2020 deaths of two young brothers in a Los Angeles crosswalk.
Prosecutors face a maximum sentence of 34 years to life in prison. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said Monday he was « deeply disappointed in the outcome. » Grossman was ordered to pay $47,161.89 in restitution to the victims' families.
Grossman — who founded the Grossman Burn Foundation with her husband, Peter, a prominent Los Angeles plastic surgeon and burn doctor — said throughout the trial and sentencing that she missed the two boys crossing the street with their parents. shortcut.
Police alleged in a statement At the time She drove through Westlake Village « at high speed. » They said she continued driving after the crash, eventually stopping about a quarter mile away.
« This man showed complete disregard for the lives and safety of others in our community with his reckless actions that ultimately shattered a family and robbed two children of a bright future, » Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Chief Alan Castellano said. said Monday.
In an explanatory memorandum, prosecutors argued for the maximum sentence, accusing Grossman of displaying a « narcissistic superiority » and saying he did not show remorse or accept responsibility for the accident.
« She lived a life of privilege, clearly feeling that her wealth and notoriety would buy her freedom, » they wrote.
In a letter to the boys' parents, attached as an exhibit to the prosecutor's sentencing motion, Grossman wrote: “I am so sorry that I have been portrayed as a monster to you. I will always remember this second of my life for the rest of my life. daily I still have dreams. He said his earlier attempts to express remorse had been « redacted ».
Grossman's attorney, James Spertus, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At trial, prosecutors presented evidence that a data recorder in Grossman's Mercedes SUV showed her going 81 mph with her foot pressed to the ground seconds before the crash. The speed limit in residential areas is 45 mph.
Investigator Michael Hale testified that his SUV hit the boys from a 12-story height with the equivalent of a vehicle's force.
Grossman has no prior convictions, but state criminal records list several driving offenses, including speeding offenses dating back to the early 2000s.
During the trial, he was told that he drank at least two margaritas and took Valium that day, and experts testified that his mental capacity and physical reactions may have been impaired.
Several witnesses testified that she was driving erratically and at a high rate of speed before the crash, in which she allegedly swerved into the bicycle lane in an attempt to pass a car.
She appeared to be playing « a deadly game of chase » with Scott Erickson, the driver of a black Mercedes and her boyfriend at the time, the prosecution said.
“The loss of these two innocent lives has devastated their families and our community. Ms. Grossman's blatant disregard for human life is a reminder of the grave consequences of reckless behavior behind the wheel,” Gascon said in a statement.
