Ex-Sutter North doctor found guilty of DUI in Sutter County court

A North Highlands physician who practiced in Yuba-Sutter was found guilty Friday in Sutter County Superior Court of causing injury by driving under the influence.

Ifeyani Charles Igwegbe, who performed colonoscopies at Rideout Memorial Hospital, could receive probation and jail time to three years in prison when he is sentenced Sept. 30. Probation is likely since Igwegbe has no criminal record, said Assistant District Attorney Jana McClung.

McClung pointed out numerous contradictions in Igwegbe's story when he testified Friday morning. His attitude seemed to be, "Everyone's lying but me," she said after the verdict.

Igwegbe was heading to work at Rideout when he lost control of his Honda Accord on Highway 99 north of Riego Road, crossed the median and hit a car driven by an Olivehurst woman.

California Highway Patrol Officer Carlos Lejarza testified earlier that Igwegbe verbally abused him after being arrested.

Lejarza said Igwegbe complained he was being humiliated because he is black. He said he was a very important doctor and that Lejarza would lose his job, McClung recounted.

Igwegbe told Lejarza that if he ever found himself on Igwegbe's table he would not wake up, she said.

Igwegbe denied making the threats.

Lejarza took the stand again Friday and testified — contrary to Igwegbe's testimony — that Igwegbe admitted when arrested that he had drunk wine after midnight on the day of the accident.

Igwegbe's story also differed from what he told the California Medical Board last week about what happened immediately after the accident, McClung said.

According to a transcript of the board meeting, Igwegbe said he got out of his car, which ended up in a ditch, and ran to check on the driver of the car he had just hit. None of several witnesses at his trial testified to that.

Igwegbe admitted to McClung that he did not go to the other car. The transcript of last week's medical board hearing was wrong, he said.

Igwegbe also told the medical board he bumped his head in the accident, possibly to explain being unsteady on his feet. None of the witnesses at his trial testified that he mentioned being injured in any way.

The board earlier suspended Igwegbe's license to practice medicine after the May 25, 2010, accident. The suspension was lifted about three months ago but Igwegbe is not practicing, said his attorney, Michael J. Khouri.

After the hearing last week, the board is expected to rule within 30 days on the status of Igwegbe's license. Probation or revocation are possibilities.

Igwegbe testified he begged Lejarza not to take him in handcuffs to Rideout Memorial Hospital for a blood test because that was where he worked. When they arrived, he had to be pulled out of the patrol car, Lejarza said.

Igwegbe had been scheduled to perform medical procedures at the hospital the day of the accident.

At the time of the accident, Igwegbe told McClung, he was reaching down in search of his cellphone, even though he was closely following the car ahead. When he almost hit the car, he braked and lost control, Igwegbe said.

Igwegbe's blood alcohol content was .13 percent when it was tested about 90 minutes after the accident.

"We're obviously disappointed with the verdict," Khouri said. "I hope Dr. Igwegbe can resume his practice of medicine shortly."

Khouri tried to convince jurors that the blood sample was not Igwegbe's.

If Khouri had succeeded, Lejarza said outside the courthouse, questions would have been raised about the many DUI cases the CHP handles.

The victim "could have been any one of us" who regularly drive on Highway 99, Lejarza said.