A state appeals court panel has denied a bid for re-sentencing by a man who is serving a 30-year-to-life term in state prison for a DUI crash that killed a married couple in Arleta.
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In a ruling Wednesday, a three-justice panel from California's 2nd District Court of Appeal affirmed a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge's order denying Arsen Panasian's petition for re-sentencing in connection with a June 20, 2015, crash, that killed Alfred Chacon, 62, and his wife, Alma.
Panasian, now 51, drove through a red light at the intersection of Branford Street and Dorrington Place and crashed his Chevrolet Astro van into the couple's Toyota Camry as they were heading home from a birthday party, authorities said.
The victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Panasian had a blood-alcohol content of 0.23 percent -- nearly three times the legal limit considered impaired -- at the time of the crash, according to evidence presented at his trial.
The Van Nuys resident was found guilty in December 2016 of two counts each of second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in connection with the crash.
Panasian had been convicted twice before -- in 2001 and 2006 -- of misdemeanor driving with a 0.08 percent or higher blood alcohol content, Deputy District Attorney Kaveh Faturechi said at the time.
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