Idaho Man Convicted Of Killing Biker During Biker Weekend
INDIO -An Idaho man who pleaded guilty to driving drunk when he struck and killed a motorcyclist in Palm Springs was serving a six month sentence today in Riverside County jail, authorities said.
Max Moorehouse, 78, of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty last Wednesday to one count of vehicular manslaughter and two DUI charges stemming from the Oct. 11, 2008 death of 52-year-old Roberto Ybarra of Los Angeles.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Dale Wells accepted the plea and immediately sentenced Moorehouse to 180 days in county jail and five years probation. The judge also ordered Moorehouse to pay $20,850 in victim restitution and attend an Alcoholics Anonymous program, according to court records.
Moorehouse, who was not hurt in the crash, drove his vehicle directly into the path of a Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Ybarra on East Palm Canyon Drive at Indian Trail, said Sgt. Mitch Spike of the Palm Springs Police Department.
Ybarra later died at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
Moorehouse was taken into custody. He posted $100,000 bail and was released from custody on Oct. 24, 2008.
Ybarra was known by friends as “Big Bob,” The Desert Sun reported. He was in Palm Springs for the 2008 American Heat Motorcycle Weekend, which annually draws thousands of biking enthusiasts to downtown, according to police.
