ENCINITAS — The original jury trial date for a man accused of vehicular manslaughter in the death of a 12-year-old Encinitas girl was delayed during an Aug. 13 readiness hearing at Vista Courthouse as prosecutors and defense attorneys work to reach a settlement.
In November 2025, Eddie Sengendo, 45, was charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in the April 2025 collision that killed former Park Dale Lane Elementary School sixth grader Emery Chalekian.
The two sides agreed to vacate the original jury trial date and return for another readiness hearing Sept. 14 while they continue negotiating a potential plea agreement. The decision followed more than 20 minutes of backroom deliberations facilitated by Judge Saba Sheibani.
If the parties do not reach an agreement, the case could still proceed to trial. A new trial date has not been set.
The agreement follows a judge’s July 31 decision to reject Sengendo’s request for a diversion program and instead send the case to trial. The diversion program would have allowed the charge to be dismissed if Sengendo completed court-mandated requirements.
Sengendo’s attorney, Jay Temple, told The Coast News that both sides are discussing potential jail time, Sengendo’s lack of a criminal record and the lack of evidence that Sengendo was impaired during the collision as part of ongoing settlement negotiations.
On April 25, 2025, Chalekian was crossing Encinitas Boulevard with a friend after ballet class when she was struck and killed by a Nissan Xterra that ran a red light, according to prosecutors’ in-court descriptions of the incident previously reported by The Coast News.
A group of Chalekian’s family members and supporters who attended Thursday’s hearing wore yellow clothing, Chalekian’s favorite color, to honor the 12-year-old and show solidarity with her family.
