Felony Vehicular Manslaughter Case Against Los Gatos Man Continues

A charged with felony vehicular manslaughter in the Oct. 23, 2011 death of a San Jose IBM employee riding his Segway at a downtown Morgan Hill crosswalk, appeared in court Tuesday only to have his case continued to April 5.

According to Santa Clara County Supervising Deputy District Attorney Steve Lowney, Dick Chappell will once again appear at the Morgan Hill courthouse at 8:30 a.m., in court room No. 110, for a felony advanced resolution.

"It's on for discussion so the judge, the probation officer, the defense attorney and the prosecutor will be there to discuss the case," explained Lowney, adding that Chappell, who's 83, will have a chance to plea to the crime he's accussed of committing.

If Chappell doesn't plea, Lowney said the parties will go to the next step, which is a preliminary hearing.

Chappell entered a not-guilty plea Jan. 3, however, Lowney explained almost every criminal defendant, at arraignment, enters a not-guilty plea to get more time for the attorney to investigate the case or retain counsel.

If convicted, he could face up to four years in state prison, Lowney said.

Chappell was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Jail last October on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol the day of the tragedy and was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter.

Killed in the accident was Marschelle Syverson, 72, an IBM employee.

According to police, the accident occurred at the intersection of Butterfield Boulevard and Jarvis Drive, in Morgan Hill.

Chappell, driving a 1991 Lexus SUV, apparently ran the red light and struck Syverson while he was in the crosswalk riding the Segway, police said.