Published: May 21, 2010
Updated: May 22, 2010 10:11 a.m.

Man sentenced for crashing into a tree at a jail

LARRY WELBORN

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

NEWPORT BEACH – A Los Alamitos man was sentenced to nine years in prison Friday for crashing a car into a tree inside the James Musick Correctional Facility and getting into a fight with a guard.

Matthew Van McDaniel, 25, pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault on an officer, one felony count of an ex-convict entering grounds of a correctional facility, misdemeanor reckless driving, misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and misdemeanor driving with a blood level of .08 percent or more.

                                         Matthew Van McDaniel

McDaniel was drunk when he drove a Mercedes Benz S550 into the Musick Jail in Irvine at 2 a.m. Jan. 10 and crashed into a tree, according to a news release from the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

When a correctional officer contacted McDaniel, he was punched in the face, prosecutors said. After he was finally restrained, McDaniel showed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and a distinct odor of alcohol from his breath.

During the booking process, McDaniel tested at a blood alcohol level of .14 percent, according to prosecutors.