Couple sentenced for fatal Pacific Palisades hit-run

DEL AIRE, Calif. (KABC) -- A Los Angeles couple was sentenced Friday for their involvement in the hit-and-run death of a federal judge's son in Pacific Palisades.

Marguerite Vuong, 67, of the Palms area in Los Angeles, was sentenced to three years in state prison for striking 23-year-old David Pregerson with her car and fleeing the scene. Pregerson is the son of U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson and a grandson of U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Harry Pregerson.

Her husband Michael Vuong, 67, was sentenced to one year in county jail and three years of probation for being an accessory to the crime. He initially came forward as the person driving the car in an attempt to help his wife, prosecutors said. He also had the car repaired to hide evidence of the crash, according to evidence shown at a preliminary hearing.

Both pleaded no contest to their charges.

David Pregerson was struck at about 3 a.m. Dec. 27, 2013. while walking home. Vuong, a postal worker, was on her way to work, prosecutors said. Pregerson, a UCLA graduate and aspiring filmmaker, died at a hospital four days later.

The Vuongs did not speak in court, but their three children apologized to the Pregersons for what happened.

Len Miller, a relative of the Vuongs, hopes the Pregersons can forgive the couple.

"That's the only time they'll have the solace and peace of mind that I'm sure they deserve. That's not easy to do, but it's possible," Miller said.

The Pregerson family declined to comment.