Drunken driver in death of Angels' Adenhart convicted of murder

SANTA ANA, Calif. - A jury convicted a drunken driver of murder Monday in the deaths of promising rookie Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two of his friends.

Andrew Gallo, 23, held white rosary beads and occasionally looked up at jurors as they returned convictions on three counts of second-degree murder and single counts of drunken driving, hit-and-run driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol and causing great bodily injury.

Gallo, who had a previous DUI conviction, was led away in handcuffs and briefly looked over his shoulder at sobbing relatives of the victims who had gathered in the Orange County courtroom.

Gallo faces 50 years to life in state prison at his scheduled sentencing Dec. 10.

His attorney, Jacqueline Goodman, said Gallo would appeal. "I think it's tragic," she told reporters. "I think there's been a miscarriage of justice."

Prosecutors said they charged the case as second-degree murder instead of manslaughter because Gallo had a previous DUI conviction, had specific knowledge of the dangers of drinking and driving from his own experience, and had signed a court form from the earlier case saying he understood he could be charged with murder if he drove drunk again and killed someone.

Adenhart, 22, died just hours after pitching six scoreless innings in his season debut.

Henry Pearson, 25, and Courtney Stewart, 20, also died in the April 9, 2009, collision in Fullerton. Passenger Jon Wilhite was severely injured.