Sonia Cano is now in jail for one year for felony hit and run in the death of Salinas transient Alan Russell Ellis, 52, on Dec. 10.
Cano, 36, was nine-year employee for the Monterey County Probation Officer at that time, but she resigned from her position on Feb. 23, the Probation Department confirms.
While still an employee on unpaid administrative leave, Cano pleaded guilty on Jan. 31 in Monterey County Superior Court to felony hit and run resulting in death and one misdemeanor DUI charge.
But on March 7, Superior Court Judge Andrew Liu ruled her charge would only be for felony hit and run, because an investigation by the Salinas Police Department found Cano was not at fault for the collision.
"Surveillance video confirmed the victim jaywalked erratically across North Main Street at night, causing several vehicles to take evasive action to avoid hitting him," the press release states.
Russell stepped on the narrow median, and was narrowly missed by one vehicle in the fast lane that stopped short.
He continued walking into the slow lane and was instantly struck by Cano's car. She left the scene and turned herself into police three hours later.
Toxicology tests showed Ellis' blood alcohol level was .24 percent and he tested positive for THC, according to a press release from the District Attorney's Office.
Liu denied home custody for Cano, immediately placing her into the custody of the Monterey County Jail to serve her one year sentence. He also ruled she will serve five years probation.
Update: Cano's lawyer, Brian Worthington, confirmed on March 13 that for safety reasons Cano was moved to a county jail in another county. He declined to name which one.
If she remains in Monterey County after being released from jail, she will report to a supervisor at the same office she once worked for.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect the following correction. The original post said that Cano's blood-alcohol level was 0.24 percent and that THC was detected. Those results should have been assigned to the victim, Ellis. When Cano was arrested in December, the arresting officer had reason to believe she was under the influence and she was booked for driving under the influence.