Today, July 25, 2022, Charles Coker (51, of Fresno) was sentenced to 18 years and 4 months in state prison for driving under the influence causing great bodily injury to two children and fleeing the scene. Coker’s sentence was handed down after pleading no contest to all charges and allegations and admitting to two prior strike convictions.
Coker was charged following a motor vehicle collision that occurred on November 7, 2021. In that collision a car driven by Coker struck another vehicle causing great bodily injury to two minor children therein, ages 6 and 9. Also injured in the accident was a pregnant female who was a passenger in Coker’s car. After the collision, Coker fled the scene on foot but was found and arrested shortly thereafter by the Fresno Police Department. The toxicology report later confirmed that Coker was driving with potentially toxic levels of methamphetamine in his system.
This case was successfully prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Christopher Moss with our Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Unit. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.