By Redaccion
[email protected]
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced that Nathaniel Wills (DOB 04/11/88), of Los Angeles, has been sentenced to 15 years and 5 months in state prison for a DUI crash that killed his passenger, Leon Parks, and injured two others.
In September 2024, a jury found Wills guilty of driving on a suspended license due to prior DUI convictions. However, the jury deadlocked on all other charges, including a murder count, leading to a mistrial. Following the mistrial, Wills pleaded guilty on November 15, 2024, to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury, and driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher, causing injury. He also admitted to 17 special allegations and aggravating factors, including causing injury or death to multiple victims and having prior DUI convictions.
The incident occurred on January 27, 2021, when Wills was driving at a high speed and crashed into a large tree stump at Rose Avenue and Cesar Chavez Drive in Oxnard. Leon Parks was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Two other passengers sustained major injuries and were hospitalized but survived. Wills was also hospitalized after the crash and later arrested by the Oxnard Police Department on March 9, 2021, on charges related to DUI and Mr. Parks’ death.
Court records show Wills had four prior DUI convictions, during which he received the Watson advisement. This advisement warns DUI offenders in California that driving under the influence again and causing a fatality could result in murder charges.
Deputy District Attorney Jillian Ewan, of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office DUI Unit, prosecuted the case.
“Impaired driving is incredibly dangerous to everyone on the road,” Ms. Ewan stated. “This was a preventable tragedy. Wills knew the risks of his actions but continued to drive impaired, resulting in the death of Leon Parks and serious injuries to his passengers. The District Attorney’s Office remains committed to holding impaired drivers accountable to prevent these senseless tragedies.”
