Trial Date Set in Los Gatos Fatal Crash Case

The case against , the San Jose man charged with felony gross vehicular manslaughter in the Jan. 31, 2010, death of Aaron Vega in Los Gatos, is set to go to trial Sept. 12, a deputy district attorney said Monday.

Priolo, 24, has also been charged with fleeing from a police officer causing death of another person and, according to Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Tim McInerny, who is prosecuting the case. Priolo has pleaded not guilty to all three crimes.

Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Lisa McCrary explained the case is now set for a "readiness" hearing on Aug. 16, when both sides will discuss discovery that's been passed back and forth.

On July 12, the parties appeared before Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Philip Pennypacker, McCrary added.

"We let him [the judge] know where we stood and our discussions on the case," said McInerny. "He's still pending trial. There may be a resolution of the case, but the attorneys basically need to speak to Mr. Priolo and discuss his options with him, and we'll know, hopefully in about a month."

McInerny said if the parties get to the tentative Sept. 12 trial date, it will still take at least a week or two for the proceedings to begin.

Priolo is represented by four attorneys, including Robert Coppola, who didn't immediately return phone calls by the time of this posting.

Early this year, authorities say investigations revealed that on or about and between March 24 and May 18, 2010, Priolo solicited Daniel Chavez to commit and join in the commission of the crime of murder.

McInerny said the target of the murder-for-hire plot was a Santa Clara County assistant district attorney.

Priolo is charged with felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in the death of , a friend who was riding in the front passenger seat of his black Ford Mustang. The car crashed into a tree and two poles at the intersection of Los Gatos Boulevard and Nino Avenue in Los Gatos on Jan. 31, 2010, McInerny said.

"The only people who were hurt in this accident are friends of the defendant," McInerny said. "He killed one of his friends and severely injured two others."

If convicted of all the charges, Priolo faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of felony vehicular manslaughter, or two years if convicted of solicitation for murder, McInerny said.

To avoid trial, Priolo would need to plea guilty and throw himself in the mercy of the court, McInerny added. "We're not making any offers to him on either case ... This has not happened. He hasn't agreed to this yet ... We have a very strong case and we're prepared to take it to court. It doesn't matter to us."

McInerny said Vega's family believes the tragic crash was an accident, "because they don't know what I know. His speed [the morning of the crash] has been estimated at over 120 mph."