CHULA VISTA (CNS) - A motorist accused of killing a homeless woman as she crossed a street in Chula Vista on Christmas Day pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a charge of felony hit-and-run causing death.
Angel Gutierrez, 23, was ordered held on $250,000 bail.
He was arrested about six hours after the 8:30 p.m. collision that claimed the life of 54-year-old Robin O'Quinn, also known as Robin O'Quinn Fortson.
The victim was crossing the 1200 block of Third Avenue when she was struck, police said.
A witness provided officers with a partial license plate of the white Pontiac sedan that hit the woman, and police found the car abandoned in the 200 block of Moss Street about an hour later.
Investigators went to the registered owner's address, questioned Gutierrez's relatives, then picked him up about 2:40 a.m. Sunday outside his home in the 300 block of Date Street.
Gutierrez initially told officers he was not driving and had loaned his car to a "homeboy," according to police.
South Bay Judge David Rubin scheduled a readiness conference for Jan. 7 and a preliminary hearing for Jan. 12.
Gutierrez faces up to four years in prison if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney Paul Azevedo.
