Arraignment in Death of Mara Steves Postponed, Suspect's Aunt Weighs In

Less than 48 hours after was arrested in connection with the death of Mara Steves, a good Samaritan killed while trying to rescue a dog in traffic, he stood before a judge at the Central Justice Center to hear the charges against him. The arraignment, however, was postponed until June 9 and bail was set at $5 million. 

Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies arrested Hall on Tuesday in a phone booth at a Walgreens in Yorba Linda, according to sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino.

Hall, who had two prior convictions for driving under the influence, has been charged with murder in the fatal crash. After his second conviction, authorities warned Hall that he could face a murder charge if he killed someone while driving under the influence. If convicted, Hall faces a maximum of 21 years to life in state prison.

While Hall remains behind bars, those in the community, from local police to close friends, reacted to the news of the arrest.

Laguna Niguel resident Tim Berney, who was among the first people on the scene and who on Steves said:  "First, and honestly, I am surprised it has taken this long.  I’m sure the local police had their work cut out for them but it has been a long time.  My hope is that the man arrested is dealt with severely. His actions irreversibly hurt a family, an elementary school, and a larger community.

"Moreover, he represents what is increasingly becoming a blight on Laguna Niguel, that is, reckless drivers. I think you should look quickly at accidents per capita … I am guessing Laguna Niguel is at the high-end of south O.C. averages. People have lost faith in the city’s Planning Commission."

Long time friend Elizabeth von Gremp, who planted a garden in Steves' name, added, "All I can say is that I love and miss Mara very much and I just want justice to be served.  It's a shame that someone with two prior arrests ...  was still on the streets. It opens the wound again."

Hall's aunt, Ellen Dalton, a resident of St. George, Utah, emailed Laguna Niguel Patch and expressed her sympathy for the Steves family. She added that her nephew should not have been allowed to "slip through the cracks."

"I know he has had a tough time," Dalton said. "My brother, his father, passed away six years ago. My heart goes out to the Steves family. My own daughter passed away when my grandchildren were only 8, 4 and 18 months old. It is hard on any child to lose a parent. The sad thing is everyone involved in this tragedy is a victim. Even Adam for being allowed to slip through the cracks of society. My deepest sympathies to the Steves family. My prayers are with you."

Capt. Greg McKeown, spokesman for the Orange County Fire Authority said, "As an organization, we congratulate the O.C. Sheriff's Department on its arrest. We'll be sure to watch what happens with this case and will look for a positive resolution, and hope the family has some closure."

A crew from Fire Station No. 39 was one of the first to arrive at the Feb. 13 crash scene and later planted in her honor.

Laguna Niguel Chief of Police Services Lt. Andy Ferguson said, "I understand that we took extra time to investigate this case, but we took this investigation very seriously and wanted to make sure that we got all of the information that we could and all of the facts right, so that we could serve the community—and the families involved in this tragedy—well."

Many Drugs

At the time of the wreck, Hall was allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine, morphine, Diazepam, Nordiazepam, Alprazolam, Hydroxyalprazolam, Oxazepam, Temazepam, amphetamine and 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (a cannabis byproduct).

He was also on probation for two driving-under-the-influence convictions. In March 2008, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs for an October 2007 incident. He was sentenced to three years of informal probation and ordered to complete a three-month first-offender alcohol program and Mothers Against Drunk Driving victim impact panel.

Less than two months after being sentenced in that case, Hall was again arrested for driving under the influence in May 2008. Hall pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, five years of informal probation, and was ordered to complete a 180-day drug and alcohol program and an 18-month multiple offender alcohol program.

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