Man charged in fatal Christmas Eve crash appears in court

The man who police say was driving drunk on Christmas Eve and slammed into another car, killing three people, made his initial appearance in court Tuesday.

Carlos Rodolfo Prieto, 24, appeared before 3rd District Judge Sheila McCleve via video hook-up from the Salt Lake County Jail. The judge read the charges against him, which were translated by an interpreter, and set a scheduling conference for Prieto for Jan. 8 before 3rd District Judge Deno Himonas.

Prieto's lawyer, Peter Waldo, asked

for a bail reduction hearing, and McCleve said that could be addressed Jan. 8. Prieto is being held on $500,000 bail, according to state court documents.

Prieto is charged with three counts of automobile homicide and two counts of driving under the influence and causing serious bodily injury, all third-degree felonies. He also is charged with class A misdemeanor DUI causing bodily injury and class C misdemeanor driving without a license.

Police said Prieto was driving drunk, ran a red light and smashed his pickup truck into a car carrying a family of six, killing the mother and two children and injuring the father and two other children.

Cheryl Ceran, 47, and her son, Ian Ceran, 15, died at the scene. Daughter Julianna Ceran, 7, was airlifted to a hospital, but died later. The father, Gary Ceran, 45, had minor injuries. Siblings Caleb Ceran, 12, and Clarissa Ceran, 19, also were injured.

The Cedar Hills family was returning home after doing some last-minute shopping at Wal-Mart following a cast party for Hale Center Theatre's production of "A Christmas Carol," in which some family members had roles.

Court documents state Prieto told police he had consumed five beers. Police also reported Prieto smelled of liquor and had slurred speech.

The court hearing Tuesday was a routine procedure that begins the legal process. Prosecutor Langdon Fisher said preliminary information had been provided to the defense attorney Tuesday morning, and the case is still in its early stages.

Fisher said he had no knowledge regarding Prieto's immigration status in the United States.

Questioned about the severity of the charges, Fisher said an initial review of the incident showed third-degree felony charges were appropriate, although he did not rule out the possibility that the charges could be amended in the future.

Third-degree felonies carry a penalty of up to five years in prison. If Prieto is convicted of the felonies and the sentences are ordered by a judge to run consecutively, he could spend 25 years behind bars.

Gary Ceran and his two surviving children buried his wife and the other two youngsters on Saturday at a funeral in which Gary Ceran proclaimed his faith in God and belief that they would all be reunited in the afterlife. He also has said he feels sorry for Prieto and forgives him.

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E-mail: lindat@desnews.com