Gallo Pleads Not Guilty

Before we continue with this story, we just thought we'd let you know that you can still get a "Gallo-54" jersey on MLB.com, but anything with Nick Adenhart's name on it...?
Not a chance...
Something is inherently wrong about that...

((HT: KTLA-TV))

The driver accused of killing Anaheim Angels' pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others pleaded not guilty today on three counts of murder, drunken driving and fleeing the scene of an accident.

Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, is accused of driving with a blood-alcohol content three times the legal limit when he ran a red light and crashed into a car April 9 in Fullerton. He is being held on $2 million bail.Gallo did not address the court.

His plea was entered by his attorney Randal Longwith. Longwith says he will ask for a change of venue in the case claiming he does not believe his client can get a fair trial in Orange County.

"Generally the emotion here, it's so heated," Longwith said, adding that both he and his client have received death threats. "The threats are coming to (Gallo), and a whole lot to me as well," he said.

Gallo is being held in the general population at the Orange County jail and is not in protective custody, Longwith said.

Adenhart, 22, who had just pitched six scoreless innings, was killed, along with driver Courtney Stewart, 20, of Diamond Bar, and Henry Pearson, 25, of Manhattan Beach.Gallo, of San Gabriel, fled the crash on foot and was captured about thirty mintues after the accident. Police say he was driving with a suspended license after a 2006 drunk driving conviction.

Adenhart and the others had gone dancing at a club about a block away from the crash.Jon Wilhite, 24, of Manhattan Beach, was critically injured in the crash. The former Titan baseball player is now in stable condition, said Farrah Emami of the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

He attended Monday's court hearing.

The fact that Wilhite even survived his injuries is considered a miracle. His skull separated from his spine internally, an injury that is rarely survivable and can cause paralysis on one side of the body.

According to family members, Wilhite can move his arms and legs but has limited ability to walk. He also has no noticeable brain damage and is able to talk, they said.Gallo faces 55 years to life in prison if convicted on all counts.

Here's coverage from our friends at KTTV/MyFoxLA with Bob Decastro on site...