A 17-year-old Torrey Pines High School student showed signs that he is thinking about admitting to charges of vehicular manslaughter and various other charges next month, a decision that would land him up to three years of probation but have the charges cleared from his record in the long run. 

The process, known as deferred entry of judgment, is an option for certain defendants in juvenile court, reported the teen’s lawyer, Robert Grimes, after a court hearing.

The young boy was driving a vehicle that collided on Oct. 4 while driving on a windy road in Rancho Santa Fe. The accident resulted in the death of one passenger, 17-year-old Alex Capozza, and the wounding of another.  

According to the deferred entry process, the county Probation Department is to complete a report on the teen, his family, the crimes and the victims. The department is to suggest to Judge George “Woody” Clarke if the boy, who plays as a senior on his high school’s lacrosse team, is able to try for  the process. 

“The judge would then have a lot of discretion as to what the conditions of probation would be like, and how long they would last,” Grimes stated. 

The youth’s actions and activities would be overseen very carefully by the Probation Department and court for up to three years. 

If by the end of the term he has followed according to the conditions and rules, then the charges will be dropped and his record will be cleared. The next court visit is scheduled for Nov. 10.

California Highway Patrol investigators reported that the teen was at a party before he left in his car and had been drinking with a blood alcohol level measurement of 0.10 about an hour following the crash. That breaks the 0.08 percent legal limit for drivers in California.

He is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated and two counts of driving under the influence leading to injury. 

The minor has entered an not guilty plea. He is being held at Juvenile Hall.