News

Actions

Man pleads not guilty to hit-and-run charges

Posted at 6:09 PM, Oct 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-13 00:05:16-04

Roger Mullins faced the man accused of hurting his daughter for the first time Thursday afternoon.

"It's feelings of anger, as well as feelings of relief, that he is going to face consequences," said Mullins. 

Justin Parker was in court for a hit-and-run crash that left Ashley Mullins Lane seriously hurt last month in Encinitas. 

Deputies say she was walking through an intersections on Encinitas Boulevard when she she was struck by a white truck on September 22nd. They say Parker got out of his vehicle, spoke to witnesses, and took off shortly after. 

Parker turned himself in to the North Coastal Sheriff's Station nearly two weeks later.

Thursday afternoon, one of Ashley's friends stood outside the courthouse to show support. She says she wants to know why he would have taken off. 

"What kind of human being does that?," said Amber Martin. "What kind of father? He has children. What kind of father or husband would do that? It's beyond me, its' absolutely beyond me."

For Ashley's mother, it's not about Parker; but what her daughter will be dealing with for the rest of her life. She's already suffered multiple strokes and partial paralysis. 

"She is left handed, so she'll have to retrain herself to do everything with the right hand," said Suzi Mullins. "For me, it has to do with the health of a young woman who we love very much, who has got to be careful walking down a step now for the rest of her life."

Parker is charged with hit-and-run with serious bodily injury. He bailed out of jail at $250,000. 

At his arraignment today the judge revoked his driver's license. He is due back in court for a readiness hearing on November 6th.