John Driscoll

The Times-Standard

A Miranda woman’s no contest plea to vehicular manslaughter Monday ended the criminal proceedings surrounding the death of late Supervisor Roger Rodoni one year ago.

Diane Johnson pleaded no contest in Humboldt County Superior Court on the eve of her trial, and was sentenced by Judge Marilyn Miles to three years probation and 100 hours of community service and was ordered to pay a $672 fine.

Rodoni’s wife, Johanna Rodoni, said in an interview that she is happy that the legal process surrounding the incident is over.

”Our family is pleased that Diane Johnson has finally admitted responsibility for the crash,” Johanna Rodoni said.

But Johanna Rodoni added that she wished Johnson had made that admission long ago, which would have helped as the family was grieving. She said Johnson never told the Rodoni family exactly what caused the crash, and wondered why Johnson hadn’t just pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge early on.

”There was no question in my mind that she was at fault,” Johanna Rodoni said.

On April 24, 2008, Johnson’s 1997 Buick Riviera swerved across the U.S. Highway 101 median into the oncoming lane just north of Rio Dell and struck Roger Rodoni’s pickup truck. The truck rolled down an embankment, killing the 2nd District supervisor. Neither drugs nor alcohol were determined to be a factor in the crash.

The plea of no contest to vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence is treated by the court as a guilty plea.

Humboldt County prosecutor Jeremiah Ross said he believes the District Attorney’s Office had a strong case, and that the outcome would have been the same had it gone before a jury. He called Roger Rodoni’s death a tragedy that could have been averted had Johnson been driving responsibly.

”Mr. Rodoni is dead because of the defendant’s inattentive driving,” Ross said.

Johnson’s defense attorney Michael Robinson said that he expected to prevail, but that the Johnson family was worn out “emotionally, psychologically and financially.” Johnson was 58 years old at the time of the crash and had no criminal record. The family did not want to put the Rodoni family or their own through a three-week trial, Robinson said.

”(Johnson) felt like it was time to step up and take responsibility for what occurred,” Robinson said.

Robinson also said that a confidential civil settlement for compensation was lodged with the court on March 18.

Roger Rodoni’s death -- which occurred while he was driving to a campaign fundraiser -- rocked the community. A rancher, artist and politician, Roger Rodoni was a stalwart conservative. Johanna Rodoni was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to carry out Roger Rodoni’s term on the Board of Supervisors. In the November 2008 election, Johanna Rodoni ran as a write-in candidate against Clif Clendenen and Estelle Fennell. Clendenen won the seat.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Jimmy Smith said Roger Rodoni’s death is not forgotten.

”We’re reminded of the tragedy on an almost daily basis because of projects we worked on together,” Smith said. “It’s been a really sad time for the board.”