James Tappon and Christopher Garcia are dead. They might still be alive if others had been more careful or a bit less hotheaded. Were they killed unnecessarily? Most certainly. Were they murdered? Should those critically involved be held accountable? What will society – in this case the Morongo community – decide? Or will it decide at all? With what moral authority can it speak?
On On October 31 at 3:01 p.m., Frank Stiffens, 68, of Yucca Valley was driving his 2009 Dodge Durango north and Tappon, 69. was driving a 2015 Fort Fiesta south on Yucca Mesa Road north of Sunflower Drive.
From what California Highway Patrol investigators can piece together, the Durango drifted across the solid double yellow line and the left front of Stiffens’ vehicle smashed into the left front ofTappon’s car, resulting in major damage to both vehicles. Stibbens was seriously injured. Tappon, into whom the driver compartment had folded, was killed.
Stibbens, who was hospitalized, has, based on investigators’ conclusions, been charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and two counts of driving under the influence causing injury. Upon his release from the hospital, he was jailed at West Valley Detention Center, and is being held on $1 million bond.
Stibbens was arraigned before Judge Sarah Oliver on Wednesday morning November 5. Prosecutors presented a folder relating to Stibbens containing the CHP’s preliminary findings with regard to the October 31 collision and Stibbens driving/vehicle code/criminal history in San Bernardino County.
Inn 2007, he was charged and convicted of violating PC273.5(A)-M: inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, a misdemeanor, for which he was sentenced to 180 days in jail.
In 2011 he was charged with VC23152(A)-M: driving under the influence, a misdemeanor, and pleaded no contest to the charge in 2012.
In 2011, he was charged and convicted with driving under the influence and convicted.
In 2012, he was charged with driving while intoxicated and driving without a license and with driving while his license was suspended for driving while intoxicated. In 2013 the driving while intoxicated and driving with a license that was suspended for driving while intoxicated charges were dismissed and he was convicted of driving a vehicle without a license.
In 2020 he was charged with driving under the influence and driving while his license was suspended for having driven under the influence. He entered a guilty plea to VC23103(a)-M: wet reckless driving, a misdemeanor. Wet reckless driving is a plea reduction provided by the court in driving under the influence cases. Stibbens obtained this disposition by agreeing to attend and complete the Senate Bill 38 alcohol rehabilitation program.
In 2024 he was charged with driving while his license was suspended for driving under the influence and with speeding. In 2015, both of those charges were dismissed.
During the November 5 arraignment hearing, Judge Oliver heard his not guilty pleas to PC187: murder; PC191.5(A)-F,: gross vehicular manslaughter; VC23153(A)-F, driving under the influence and causing bodily injury, as well as his denials of the sentencing enhancements/special allegations of having been previously convicted of driving under the influence, and a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury while driving intoxicated. She confirmed continuing his bail at $1 million and appointed the public defender’s office to represent him.
He is to appear before Judge Oliver on November 12 for a pre-preliminary hearing before Judge James Taylor for a preliminary hearing on November 13.