Egg rancher Arnold Riebli looks to divert misdemeanor manslaughter charge

After pleading not guilty, Sonoma-based egg rancher Arnold Riebli, 78, is now seeking to have his vehicular manslaughter charge diverted.

A court hearing has been set for Oct. 19, when a judge will consider the diversion request, which would allow Riebli to avoid a criminal record if he completes the court-ordered program.

According to court documents, Riebli will seek a civil compromise, which occurs when a judge or prosecutor agrees to drop criminal charges against the defendant because they will compensate the victim or their family.

Riebli’s single misdemeanor charge stems from a fatal accident last July. According to law enforcement, he was driving east on Old Adobe Road at an excessive rate of speed when he rear-ended a Chevrolet Silverado that forced it to cross the center line and hit a Chevrolet Volt, which killed passenger Gail Forte, 63, a teacher from Napa.

If the judge accepts the diversion request, it would prevent the case from going to a trial, where Riebli could be subject to jail time.

Diversion programs have been expanded in California thanks to the 2020 California law AB 3234, which “authorizes a county to establish a pretrial diversion program for defendants who have been charged with a misdemeanor offense.” The bill allows a judge to “offer misdemeanor diversion to a defendant over the objection of a prosecuting attorney.”

If Riebli’s case is successfully diverted, he would avoid up to a year in prison and a $10,000 fine, the maximum penalty for instances of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in California.

Riebli’s attorney, Harris B. Taback was unable to comment on the case before the publication of this article.

Contact Chase Hunter at chase.hunter@sonomanews.com and follow @Chase_HunterB on Twitter.