Livermore Double Murder DUI Suspect Enters Plea

A Livermore man pleaded not guilty today to two counts of murder for killing a mother and her baby in a crash last month while he was allegedly driving drunk and speeding.

Brian Jones, 35, who is being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin without bail, is scheduled to return to Alameda County Superior Court in Pleasanton on July 31 for a pretrial hearing.

Related:

• Alleged Livermore Drunk Driver Arraigned; Back in Court for Plea in June
• Alleged Livermore Drunk Driver Charged With Two Counts of Murder in Death of Mom, Baby Girl
• Fund Reaches Goal for Crash Victims’ Family
• Mayor Blames Suspect, Not Wine Festival, For Deadly Crash
• Coroner Officially Releases Names; Mom’s Age Different From Previous Reports
• No Charges Filed Yet in Crash That Killed Two
• WATCH: LPD News Conference on Fatal Crash
• Police: Suspect Out of Jail, Had Attended Wine Festival
• Crash: Mother and Child Identified; Fund Set Up for Family
• Livermore Man Identified as Suspect in Deadly DUI Crash
• Update: Woman, Baby Girl Killed in Alleged DUI Crash in Livermore

Prosecutors and Livermore police allege that Jones lost control of his car while driving under the influence of alcohol and crashed into an apartment complex in the 900 block of Murrieta Boulevard just before 6:50 p.m. on May 2.

The collision killed 46-year-old Esperanza Morales-Rodriguez of Seaside and her 14-month-old daughter, Ulidia Perez-Morales, both of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said debris from the crash also struck two boys ages 6 and 7, who were taken to a hospital for treatment.

In addition to the two murder counts, Jones faces two felony counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, causing injury, as well as multiple victim and excessive speed clauses.

Livermore police said Jones had attended the Livermore Wine Country Festival before the collision. Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley said when her office filed charges against Jones that his blood alcohol content was determined to be 0.14 percent, well above the legal limit for drinking and driving, and he was under the influence of alcohol as he drove his car at speeds ranging from 75 mph to 99 mph through residential streets in Livermore.

--Bay City News; Image: Brian Jones booking photo