Oroville >> A Butte County judge Wednesday ruled that a man accused of fatally striking a bicyclist with a pickup in Oroville is competent to stand trial, according to court documents.
Superior Court Judge Kimberly Merrifield found the man, Anthony Abuanbar, 38, of Oroville, competent to stand trial after reviewing doctors’ reports and reinstated criminal proceedings in the case, according to the documents.
Abuanbar is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit-and-run driving resulting in death or serious injury, and fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s vehicle while driving recklessly.
Abuanbar is also alleged to have fled the scene of a vehicular manslaughter.
He has pleaded not guilty and is next scheduled to appear in court March 29 for a pretrial hearing.
Oroville police have accused Abuanbar of striking the bicyclist, Michael Cesspooch, 53, of Marysville, while driving south on Feather River Boulevard north of Oro Dam Boulevard about 8:30 p.m. Sept. 12.
Cesspooch died at the scene.
Police have said that Cesspooch’s bicycle became stuck under Abuanbar’s Ford F-150 pickup after the crash, and Abuanbar was seen dragging the bike a short distance before pulling to the side of the road “in an effort to allegedly conceal the bicycle.”
An officer patrolling the area tried to stop Abuanbar’s truck, but he allegedly fled instead, leading police on a chase along southbound Highway 70 that reached speeds over 70 mph, police have said.
The chase ended in the area of Pacific Heights and Hilgers roads, and Abuanbar was taken into custody. Neither the officers nor Abuanbar was hurt during the arrest.
Abuanbar remains in custody at Butte County Jail in Oroville.
Contact reporter Andre Byik at 896-7760.
