Former Red Hot Chili Peppers Guitarist Josh Klinghoffer Sentenced In Vehicular Manslaughter Case

Ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer has avoided jail time in his vehicular manslaughter case.

Klinghoffer allegedly ran over a pedestrian crossing the road in Alhambra, California, on 18 March 2024. The guitarist was allegedly on his phone while making a left turn, striking 47-year-old man Israel Sanchez, who suffered blunt-force trauma to the head. Sanchez died as a result of his injuries hours later in the hospital.

Rolling Stone reports that Klinghoffer pleaded no contest to misdemeanour vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence.

He secured a no-jail plea deal, which has resulted in a sentence of one year of informal probation and 30 days of community labour. Klinghoffer must also complete a driver safety class and pay restitution—the amount of money hasn’t yet been determined.

Following his entering of a plea deal, a prosecutor reportedly told Klinghoffer: “If you continue to drive while distracted, and as a result of your driving, someone is killed, you can be charged with murder.” Klinghoffer confirmed that he understood.

While he’s escaped jail time, Klinghoffer still faces a wrongful death lawsuit, filed by Israel Sanchez’s family last July.

The attorney suing Klinghoffer, Nick Rowley, told Variety last year that the guitarist should be “arrested and prosecuted for homicide”, and the lawsuit contains “video of him on his cell phone” when the incident occurred.

“Israel Sanchez was on his way to the grocery store to make soup for his family and never came home,” Rowley said. “He did everything right, looking for oncoming traffic and abiding by pedestrian signage, but tragically, Mr Klinghoffer, in a rush and on his phone, hit him fatally from behind with a large SUV. The loss and grief that the Sanchez family now faces is immense. We will not stop until there is accountability and justice for Mr. Sanchez and his family.”

Klinghoffer’s attorney, Andrew Brettler, added in a statement to TMZ, “It was a tragic accident. After Josh struck this pedestrian in the intersection, he immediately pulled over, stopped the car, called 911 and waited until police and the ambulance arrived.”

Brettler added that Klinghoffer was “cooperating” with police and described the incident as a “tragic accident.”

Klinghoffer has been a touring and session member of Pearl Jam since 2021 and Jane’s Addiction since 2023. In December 2019, Klinghoffer’s ten-year run with Red Hot Chili Peppers ended as the band welcomed back former guitarist John Frusciante.