‘Tapout’ Manslaughter Driver Remains in Jail
Loretta Hunt Mar 27, 2009
Jeffrey D. Kirby, the man arrested on March 11 in connection with
the death of “Tapout” founder Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr., was granted
a second continuance upon the request of his defense attorney on
Friday at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, Calif.
Kirby, 51, who has two prior convictions for driving under the influence in Nevada and California, has been charged with two felony charges of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence and faces a maximum sentence of 19 years and eight months if convicted.
Kirby’s arraignment has been re-scheduled for May 5, where he will
be expected to enter a plea. His defense had previously been
awarded a continuance at his original arraignment on March 13 to
have more time to review the case.
The court turned down a request from Kirby’s attorney to reduce his client’s bail of $500,000, said the Orange County District Attorney's Office representative Farrah Emami. Kirby has remained behind bars since his arrest on March 11.
“Kirby is accused of speeding alongside a 2004 Ferrari…,” read the District Attorney’s press release, “… [and] is accused of losing control of his car due to his unsafe speed and crashing into Lewis’ vehicle.”
The Newport Beach Police Dept., which had an officer witness the crash, has not depicted the scenario as a “drag race,” though it has stated that high speeds were involved in the 50 mph zone.
Lewis was on his way home from the gym with his girlfriend, Lacey Lynn White. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while White was ejected from the car upon impact. White was transferred to Western Medical Center Santa Ana with a broken elbow, a broken hip, and multiple lacerations. She was released six days later.
Kirby, of Costa Mesa, Calif., was also charged with sentencing enhancements for fleeing the scene, after officers found him and a female companion attempting to abandon his damaged vehicle a few blocks away from the crash. Kirby had a blood alcohol level of .13 two hours following his arrest. The state’s legal limit is .08.
Lewis was one of the co-founders of the ultra-popular MMA-lifestyle clothing brand and a star of the Versus reality TV show “Tapout.” Lewis and his partners debuted their logo in November 1997 and built a multi-million dollar clothing business virtually from scratch, selling T-shirts out of their cars at grassroots events into the early 2000s. Lewis and his partners were noted for their dedication to the sport’s advancement, as well as their generosity as sponsors to countless MMA fighters.
An open-to-the-public memorial service for the fallen MMA personality will be held on April 14 at 11 a.m. PST at the 3,000-seat Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif.
Kirby, 51, who has two prior convictions for driving under the influence in Nevada and California, has been charged with two felony charges of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence and faces a maximum sentence of 19 years and eight months if convicted.
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The court turned down a request from Kirby’s attorney to reduce his client’s bail of $500,000, said the Orange County District Attorney's Office representative Farrah Emami. Kirby has remained behind bars since his arrest on March 11.
Lewis, 45, died in a brutal crash involving his automobile and
Kirby’s Porsche in the early Wednesday morning hours, which left
the clothing company entrepreneur’s Ferrari ripped in half by a
cement pole in Newport Beach, Calif.
“Kirby is accused of speeding alongside a 2004 Ferrari…,” read the District Attorney’s press release, “… [and] is accused of losing control of his car due to his unsafe speed and crashing into Lewis’ vehicle.”
The Newport Beach Police Dept., which had an officer witness the crash, has not depicted the scenario as a “drag race,” though it has stated that high speeds were involved in the 50 mph zone.
Lewis was on his way home from the gym with his girlfriend, Lacey Lynn White. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while White was ejected from the car upon impact. White was transferred to Western Medical Center Santa Ana with a broken elbow, a broken hip, and multiple lacerations. She was released six days later.
Kirby, of Costa Mesa, Calif., was also charged with sentencing enhancements for fleeing the scene, after officers found him and a female companion attempting to abandon his damaged vehicle a few blocks away from the crash. Kirby had a blood alcohol level of .13 two hours following his arrest. The state’s legal limit is .08.
Lewis was one of the co-founders of the ultra-popular MMA-lifestyle clothing brand and a star of the Versus reality TV show “Tapout.” Lewis and his partners debuted their logo in November 1997 and built a multi-million dollar clothing business virtually from scratch, selling T-shirts out of their cars at grassroots events into the early 2000s. Lewis and his partners were noted for their dedication to the sport’s advancement, as well as their generosity as sponsors to countless MMA fighters.
An open-to-the-public memorial service for the fallen MMA personality will be held on April 14 at 11 a.m. PST at the 3,000-seat Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif.
