Scott Spiezio DUI

by Dingodile on Feb 27, 2008 11:44 AM PST

This just got forwarded to me from a buddy in the DA office.
Hope Scott can figure things out before something really bad happens...

NEWPORT BEACH - A former Angels baseball player was charged yesterday with hit-and-run and driving under the influence of alcohol after a night of drinking in Newport Beach.

Scott Spiezio, 35, Irvine, is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood alcohol of .08 percent or more, hit and run with property damage, aggravated assault, battery, and assault. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison. A $10,000 warrant has been issued for his arrest.

At approximately 12:20 a.m. on December 30, 2007, Spiezio is accused of leaving a bar in Newport Beach after spending the evening drinking several vodka drinks. He is accused of getting into his 2004 BMW and attempting to drive home while under the influence of alcohol.

Spiezio is accused of speeding, cutting across several lanes, crossing through the oncoming traffic lanes, driving over a curb, and crashing into a fence. The crash knocked down a fence pole and blew out the front two tires of the car. Spiezio is accused of getting out of the car and fleeing the scene on foot.

The defendant is accused of running to his Irvine condominium complex and going to a friend's condo, who lived in the same complex. While his friend attempted to clean up the defendant, Spiezio is accused of vomiting in his friend's room. When the friend made a comment about the vomit, Spiezio is accused of becoming angry and attacking his friend, punching him repeatedly and throwing him against a wall.

(Official NOTICE - props to downingrules for the link)

Deputy District Attorney Vanessa Woods is prosecuting this case.

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Comments

This is not public information ...

I would think, as I have not seen any articles covering this anywhere on the net.

Quit yer whinin' and START CHEERING!

by Downing Rules on Feb 27, 2008 11:47 AM PST reply actions

Ah shit ... it is FOR REAL

http://www.orangecountyda.com/home/index.asp?page=8&recordid=786

Link to the OC DA's web site...

Quit yer whinin' and START CHEERING!

by Downing Rules on Feb 27, 2008 11:48 AM PST up reply actions

DUI

It's all part of Tony LaRussa's mandatory off-season conditioning program.

by Higz on Feb 27, 2008 11:53 AM PST reply actions

TWO DAYS AFTER THE LEYRITZ TRAGEDY

...talk about ignoring the most obvious warnings possible...

by Rev Halofan on Feb 27, 2008 12:25 PM PST reply actions

Why didn't he call me for a ride?

I would have shuttled him home and tied a bag around his neck to hurl into. If he spilled any, I wouldn't have given him a hard time...I would have simply sent him a cleaning bill.

He's nearly my neighbor for crying out loud. Just call me Scott. You were a monster in 2002. It's the least I can do for you, man.

Quit yer whinin' and START CHEERING!

by Downing Rules on Feb 27, 2008 12:32 PM PST up reply actions

That is nice and all..

But wasn't it Spiez that flipped out on his friend for not cleaning it up and not the other way around? Its too bad that just because a player does well for his team he can do something like what he's done and still be regarded as a good guy.

by seamariners85 on Mar 1, 2008 8:33 AM PST up reply actions

I would have posted a link

But it had not been picked by any outlet and my buddy sent the release to me in PDF form.

by Dingodile on Feb 27, 2008 1:24 PM PST reply actions

I heard it at 11:40

My wife called me and told me she heard it on 710 AM at 11:40am.

by gohalos on Feb 27, 2008 1:45 PM PST reply actions

sounds about right

The time-stamp on my buddy's email says 11:37.

by Dingodile on Feb 27, 2008 1:49 PM PST reply actions

Thanks for sharing it ...

it didn't appear on the national front until about 1PM

Quit yer whinin' and START CHEERING!

by Downing Rules on Feb 27, 2008 2:37 PM PST up reply actions

KFWB

said earlier that he had been taken into custody, according to my wife.

Hoping Ervin Santana turns it around in Salt Lake. Go, Ervin!

by scareduck on Feb 27, 2008 1:50 PM PST reply actions

Better information, from IPD's website

http://www.cityofirvine.org/civica/press/display.asp?layout=1&Entry=823

Quit yer whinin' and START CHEERING!

by Downing Rules on Feb 27, 2008 2:00 PM PST reply actions

From Angels' biggest homerun in franchise history.

........to this.

He's lucky he didn't kill someone. What a prick.

by bc56274 on Feb 27, 2008 3:06 PM PST reply actions

WHEN

did he enter rehab last year? Before or after this?

Jackass...I agree with bc-he's damn lucky no one got killed

by ladybug on Feb 27, 2008 3:13 PM PST reply actions

Rehab

I'm 95% sure that he entered rehab during last season, so this would have been after that.

by gohalos on Feb 27, 2008 3:52 PM PST up reply actions

Spiez certainly knows how to party

While his friend attempted to clean up the defendant, Spiezio is accused of vomiting in his friend's room. When the friend made a comment about the vomit, Spiezio is accused of becoming angry and attacking his friend, punching him repeatedly and throwing him against a wall.

The drunk driving part is scary though. He is seriously lucky that he didn't kill someone or himself.

by Ajax on Feb 27, 2008 3:20 PM PST reply actions

Stoli or Absolut?

His Grey Goose is cooked!

by Rev Halofan on Feb 27, 2008 3:42 PM PST reply actions

Pure bull crap

How many drunks leave sports venues every day of the year plastered out of their frigging gourd?

As selling intoxicants is legal, then it stands to reason many will be intoxicated. Ever wonder about those giant liquor bottles they sell at every supermarket in the country? A glassy eyed individual walks up to the register at Costco, for example, every few minutes with a case full of those jugs.

So Spezio had too many drinks and dui'd and pewked and punched someone's lights out. BFD, ever been to Dodger Stadium and been knifed? Or got on the 5 or 57 after an Angel game. Too bad they don't sell weed! At least people would drive smiling.

for those academics visit http://paperesearch.blogspot.com/

by roidrage on Feb 27, 2008 3:42 PM PST reply actions

Yeah

Did you forget the part about drunk driving and hit and run??

by gohalos on Feb 27, 2008 3:53 PM PST up reply actions

Is ROIDRAGE Jim Leyritz?

...tell it to the family of the girl Leyritz killed...

by Rev Halofan on Feb 27, 2008 4:13 PM PST up reply actions

Yes

I am the one. Thank you again for your comments.

How many DUIs are there in this country? Yet the poison is legal. Why is that?

for those academics visit http://paperesearch.blogspot.com/

by roidrage on Feb 27, 2008 4:38 PM PST up reply actions

Bring back prohibition?

Quit yer whinin' and START CHEERING!

by Downing Rules on Feb 27, 2008 4:42 PM PST up reply actions

Downing, I think what many of us are forgetting

is that roidrage actually grew up during the Prohibition years. In fact, his father was one of this country's first great Jewish bootleggers, Manasseh Zebedee Roidmann.

Hopefully, he'll be able to open up and share with us his unique perspective on alcohol.

by Bilko 420 on Feb 27, 2008 5:01 PM PST up reply actions

There's the DEA

But where's the AEA? How many fans DUI leave Angel Stadium? Who gives them breath-alyzers? No one.

The same is true for all those drinking those huge flasks and driving to the store to buy more.

Prohibition in the 1920s was a religious issue. There were very few cars on the road. Today, DUI is pervasive.

Liquor is big business. It trumps people's lives and employs tens of thousands. Fans don't bring guns into Angel Stadium. They do, however, consume beer and spirits with little policing or regard for the law.

Scott has problems. He'll pay for it and perhaps go to AA or rehab, But most likely he will repeat.

Drunken fans lack good judgment. Since fans can buy beer for other fans, this problem's solution will not be solved unless it becomes a national or state issue. But police, courts, jailers, bail bondsman, etc. depend on this business and encourage the use of this.

No one cares except the punished, those caught, maimed and family and friends. Where is their collective voice?

for those academics visit http://paperesearch.blogspot.com/

by roidrage on Feb 28, 2008 4:24 AM PST up reply actions

Good points...

Your argument made a turn onto a path which I can agree with. Earlier you were saying a DUI was no big deal. It is a big deal, but people need to learn self-control, not governmental or societal control.

Let's go, Spiezio!

by Downing Rules on Feb 28, 2008 8:42 AM PST up reply actions

Too much money

There's too much money to be lost if the state or government got involved. Sadly, You can't stop it, nobody can stop it. The money always finds it's way into the crooked hands of those who create and enforce the laws. It's sad, but it's true. I see it everyday when I go to to work. Corruption at it's finest.

By the way, the bar he left in Newport Beach was 3 Thirty 3 on the corner of PCH and Bayside. Great management and good bartenders but it's tough when you have the likes of Tiger Woods, Scott Spezio, Adam Kennedy, John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Arte Moreno, Nicholas Cage, Duck players, Warren Moon, Tito Ortiz coming in. They bring woman, they bring hip crowds, and above all that, they bring lots of money. I know they've all been there because I used to work there and have seen them all. Spiezio was a real nice guy when I met him. He drinks like anyone else and I've never seen him get out of control. Then again, I've only seen him there with his wife and friends. I don't know if he was with his wife that night... she was real nice too.

I hope he gets the help he needs and wish him a speedy recovery.

by matt92130 on Feb 28, 2008 10:41 AM PST up reply actions

Correction:

My mistake, I assumed he left 3 Thirty 3 because I had seen him there many times. Anyways, he left a restaurant called "Ten".

Good article over on 6-4-2 site.

by matt92130 on Mar 1, 2008 5:12 PM PST up reply actions

It's quite simple

if you drink, don't drive. End of story. It's legal to own a gun, but that doesn't make it OK to just go around shooting people at random. I've got an excellent set of knives in my kitchen, but that doesn't make it OK to go around carving people up with them. Seriously, get a clue, dude.

by jjackflash on Feb 27, 2008 5:26 PM PST up reply actions

no glug glug honk honk?

my signature sucks

by proletariat on Feb 28, 2008 12:19 PM PST up reply actions

Can I make a prediction headline?

The OC Register will come up with something cheesy. I'm going with "Fallen Angel"

by Salmonella on Feb 27, 2008 3:43 PM PST reply actions

Apparently not

Former Angels player charged with DUI, hit-and-run and assault

Hoping Ervin Santana turns it around in Salt Lake. Go, Ervin!

by scareduck on Feb 27, 2008 4:28 PM PST up reply actions

They will surely...

trim that down for the print version.

Quit yer whinin' and START CHEERING!

by Downing Rules on Feb 27, 2008 4:33 PM PST up reply actions

Spiezio just got released by the Cardinals....

I'm not sure if that got posted earlier or not.

by bc56274 on Feb 27, 2008 3:46 PM PST reply actions

Linky

MLB.com and AP via ESPN.

Hoping Ervin Santana turns it around in Salt Lake. Go, Ervin!

by scareduck on Feb 27, 2008 3:51 PM PST up reply actions

I KNEW this was coming...

He was already hanging by a thread in St. Lou.

I am just surprised he went into the Cards' camp thinking he could win a spot. I am surprised he went to STL's fanfest equivalent and signed autographs. What a farce. I am thoroughly disappointed.

Quit yer whinin' and START CHEERING!

by Downing Rules on Feb 27, 2008 4:16 PM PST up reply actions

I can only hope

that he can get the help / ass kicking he needs to get his life in order.

I remember the Cards granting him a "leave of absence" for "unspecified issues" toward the end of last season.

Was it wrong that he did what he did? Yes. Thank in no particular order) Goodness/God/Allah/Jah/The Unspoken Name that he did not hurt or kill anyone.

Look at what happened with Leyritz...

I certainly hope that if he was released that LaRussa did not have anything to do with this. After all he has a DUI himself after he was found asleep at the wheel not long ago.

It is way overdue Arte. #5 needs to be retired by the Angels.

by BrianDowningFan on Feb 27, 2008 3:56 PM PST reply actions

I'm very sorry to hear about this.

I love all the players on the World Series Championship team, and Scott was unbelievably clutch during the entire post season. (I can make a strong argument for him as WS MVP as well.) In my opinion, his HR in Game 6 is the single most iconic moment in Angel history.

I wish him nothing but the best and hope that he can get his life back together soon.

by waters96 on Feb 27, 2008 4:13 PM PST reply actions

PANTHER!

Ditto all that you said, my friend. C'mon Scotty, you have a lot of fans here and we want you to do better for yourself.

Quit yer whinin' and START CHEERING!

by Downing Rules on Feb 27, 2008 4:17 PM PST up reply actions

It really sounded like...

he had turned things around when I wrote this diary (with link to a STL-Post Dispatch article) about a month ago:

L I N K -to- D I A R Y

Let's go, Spiezio!

by Downing Rules on Feb 27, 2008 5:10 PM PST reply actions

Why don't wealthy people get a designated driver?

I'm sure they have lot's of friends. They could even afford to take a cab. They know the repercussions. I personally would not drive under the influence. And I'm not even rich (medal please).

A couple of years ago, on a hot day, I passed a billboard with a picture of an icey cold brew in a clear mug with the caption "please drink responsibly, Anheuser-Busch" (true story). Boy that beer looked tasty.

I saw a big, fat, ugly, probably diabetic women giving a piece of candy to a 8 year old child the other day. I figure at least three years hard labor.

bring back Fregosi at ss to end the confusion

by devilorangel on Feb 28, 2008 1:04 AM PST reply actions

this isn't a simple DUI

A total of six charges have been filed against Spiezio in Orange County Superior Court, all resulting from an incident on Dec. 30, 2007. The charges are:

driving under the influence
driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher
hit-and-run with property damage
assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm
assault and battery.

by ladybug on Feb 28, 2008 7:35 AM PST reply actions

well

it's really just three charges. There's the driving, the A&B, and the H&R. The driving charges are simply two sides of the same coin, Veh. Code section 23152(a) and (b).

Still, though. Not a good night for Speez.

by jjackflash on Feb 28, 2008 10:12 AM PST up reply actions

On the IPD Link I provided above:

Charges:

CVC 23152(a) - Driving Under the Influence

CVC 23152(b) - Driving Under the Influence / With a Blood Alcohol content of .08% or more

CVC 20002(a) - Hit and Run

CPC 245(a)(1) - Aggravated Assault

CPC 240 - Assault

CPC 242 - Battery

That's six. (a) and (b) are separate charges.

Let's go, Spiezio!

by Downing Rules on Feb 28, 2008 10:40 AM PST up reply actions

But the sentencing

is the same regardless of whether you're convicted of one or both counts. Usually, plea deals involve copping to one and the other is dismissed. It's just how they charge it. Sometimes there are issues with the BAC, so they just go with the (a).

by jjackflash on Feb 28, 2008 11:02 AM PST up reply actions

ah i c

I think they are saying they are "bringing him in for six" however, you are most likely right about the results after pleas are entered. That has yet to happen, thus it is six counts. That is what city of Irvine PD is calling it, man.

Let's go, Spiezio!

by Downing Rules on Feb 28, 2008 1:07 PM PST up reply actions

I think the assault is for

Hitting the fence post. After all, fence posts cannot defend themselves.

bring back Fregosi at ss to end the confusion

by devilorangel on Feb 29, 2008 2:29 AM PST up reply actions

Attempted "Post"-slaughter

Let's go, Spiezio!

by Downing Rules on Feb 29, 2008 9:59 AM PST up reply actions

I'll

2nd that motion dowingrules. If people did not act like such dumbasses sometimes we would not have some of the controls placed upon us by the man.

Three examples:

Buying, lighting, and/or enjoying 4th of July fireworks on your street or backyard. GONE! Unless you live in one of like three cities in OC that still permits it.
Beer vendors coming through the aisles to ply their wares. Go to any game not in CA and you'll see what I mean. Nothing like handing over your hard earned $7 or $8 for an ice-cold beer poured into a cup by some greasey guy yelling "Get a beer here!" GONE! Since drunken brawls are prone to break out from people who hav ealready had too much.
Fans celebrating on the field after their team has won a championship. GONE! The scenes of '79, '82, and '86 with the fans storming the field are iconic.

It is way overdue Arte. #5 needs to be retired by the Angels.

by BrianDowningFan on Feb 28, 2008 9:21 AM PST reply actions