Los Gatos Octogenarian Pleads Not Guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter

83, charged with felony vehicular manslaughter in the Oct. 23, 2011 death of a San Jose man riding his Segway at a downtown Morgan Hill crosswalk, has plead not guilty.

Chappell entered his plea Tuesday at the Santa Clara County Courthouse in Morgan Hill. If convicted, he could face up to four years in state prison, according to Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Steve Lowney.

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 while intoxicated and felony DUI, according to Morgan Hill police Sgt. Troy Hoefling.

Killed in the accident was Marschelle Syverson, 72.

According to Hoefling, 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, he said.

Chappell's next court appearance is Jan. 17 in courtroom 105 in Morgan Hill.

According to Lowney, the not-guilty plea is customary for every defendant upon their first court appearance to get more time to retain an attorney or review the case. "It doesn't really mean anything at this point," Lowney said, adding that all facts and circumstances will be examined related to the case.

"It's early in the case and I haven't spoken to his attorney, but this is not a case where we would make any type of exception ... We will not be making any plea offers. We will not be negotiating a settlement in this case," Lowney added.

Chappell has not identified an attorney yet, Lowney said.

"Regardless of age, drinking and driving is extremely dangerous and can have tragic consequences as it did in this case," Lowney said.

The Mercury News reported Syverson was an IBM employee who owned several Mac computers, Apple iProducts and rode his motorized Segway almost every day.