Warm Springs Woman Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon
August 3, 2011

Alcohol Involved in Motor Vehicle Death of Passenger Results in Involuntary Manslaughter Conviction

PORTLAND, OR—Janna Julia Jackson, 19, of Warm Springs, appeared today before U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones and pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Judge Jones ordered Jackson to appear for sentencing on January 9, 2012. The maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter is eight years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The defendant was the driver of a pick-up truck on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in the early morning hours of October 11, 2010. Jackson, who was reported to have been drinking heavily, had three passengers in her vehicle and was observed to be driving erratically. One witness described Jackson’s driving as “pretty fast and pretty crazy.” At some point while she was driving down the highway, Jackson asked a front seat passenger to take the steering wheel while she looked through her CD collection. While distracted, defendant was unprepared for an upcoming turn in the road, she lost control of the truck, and the truck flipped over in a single-vehicle crash. Mr. Rodney T. Estimo, a passenger in the truck, was killed in the crash. Mr. Estimo was an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Jackson’s blood alcohol content was found to be 0.189, far in excess of the legal limit. A government accident reconstruction expert determined that Jackson was driving at least 48 m.p.h. in a posted 35 m.p.h. zone.

The case was investigated by Warm Springs Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Gabriel prosecuted the case.