Navy Sailor Held on $2m Bail in San Diego

San Diego, CA

Richard Anthony Sepolio, 24, the driver of a pickup truck that plunged off the Coronado (CA) Bridge last month, killing 4 people and injuring eight others, will remain in county jail in lieu of a $2 million bail until trial.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Frederick Maguire denied requests by Sepolio’s attorney Paul Pfingst to reduce bail and have Sepolio transferred to the custody of the Navy.  Sepolio is an active-duty Avionics Technician attached to a helicopter squadron and is stationed at North Island.

Pfingst argued that Sepolio suffered serious injuries in the wreck that are not being treated in jail, including a broken vertebrae, ribs and hand.  He said Sepolio could receive medical care from the Navy, including surgery that his client has not received in county jail.

Sepolio faces four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI charges resulting from the wreck that left his truck a crumpled mass 60 feet below the bridge in Barrio Logan on October 15, 2016.

Sepolio’s truck landed on a tent at a festival in Chicano Park, where about 3,000 people were gathered, killing 4 people instantly.  Reports say the truck hit front first – nose dive, then flopped on its side.

Sepolio appeared in court today with a walker, heavily bandaged and wearing a neck brace.  He was also shackled.

Pfingst asserted that Sepolio has no criminal record, however a search revealed that Sepolio was arrested for  one count of possession of drug paraphernalia in Tom Green County, TX in 2011.  The disposition of that case is unknown.

An after-hours message left with the Public Affairs Officer of Naval Air Station North Island and Sepolio’s attorney were not immediately returned.