Drunk driver gets 4 years behind bars

Kills passenger in 2019 crash



Loomis Courtesy photos

Loomis Courtesy photos

A Westlake Village attorney will serve four years in prison—the minimum sentence allowed by law—for an alcohol-fueled crash in 2019 that left his passenger dead.

Shane Loomis, 48, pleaded no contest in December to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in the death of Amanda Gannon, 38. He was facing a maximum of 10 years behind bars.

At a Feb. 4 sentencing hearing, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Bruce Young heard from six members of Gannon’s family via videoconference, including her son, Andrew “Paka” Sanborn, who was 18 at the time of his mother’s death. Most were calling from Maui, Hawaii, where Gannon was born and spent most of her life.

“This has left me with a hole in my heart that isn’t able to be mended,” Sanborn said. “I went from daily contact with my mother, my best friend, to her being gone in the blink of an eye because this man made a very selfish decision to drive while under the influence.”

Loomis had a blood alcohol content over 0.18% when he crashed the night of March 16, 2019, badly injuring himself and killing Gannon. The legal BAC limit is 0.08%. The crash happened just before midnight on Erbes Road near Westland Avenue after Loomis spent the night drinking, first margaritas, followed by beers and then wine with Gannon.

Gannon

Gannon

Gannon moved from Honolulu to Southern California in the mid- 2010s to work for UBS; she was promoted to supervisory officer for the West L.A. market in February 2018.

In explaining his decision to sentence Loomis to only four years, Young said he had to take into account Loomis’ life before the crash and lack of a criminal record.

“The person and life that Mr. Loomis led prior to March of 2019 is what justifies my term, the low term of four years, which is what I’m imposing,” Young said.

Loomis must serve at least 80% of his sentence, which amounts to three years and two months.

His mother, Jan, was among those who spoke on his behalf. On the night of the crash, Loomis would not let his family into his hospital room, she said.

“He simply wanted to die, to crawl into a hole and never come out,” she said.

Gannon’s relatives, meanwhile, pushed for the maximum sentence, saying Loomis had failed to take accountability for his actions, including his plea of “no contest.”

John Gannon, Amanda’s brother, said Loomis’ actions indicate to him what type of person the defendant is.

“I feel toward Mr. Loomis the lack of respect by not reaching out to our family at the time . . . for an apology to my family from him or his family even . . . just shows the individual’s character—and lack of cooperation also during investigation right after the event: tight lips, ‘mum’s the word; I don’t know nothing,’” he said. “I just feel it’s a direct reflection of Mr. Loomis. It’s selfish and unremorseful.”

Loomis’attorney, Doug Ridley, said his client wanted to contact the family but was advised against it.

“After discussing with therapists, after discussing with experts and on my legal counsel, we decided that reaching out to the family could cause more frustration, could cause more guilt,” Ridley said. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for someone charged with a crime to reach out to a victim and their family in order to do something like this.”

Even if Loomis had apologized at the hearing, it was too late, Amanda Gannon’s son said.

“I do not want an apology from this man. Ever,” Sanborn said. “It is truly unfair to see how this man has not been impacted because he has denied it and has claimed he needs help and is going to AA meetings, whereas my mother is dead because of this man’s terrible decisions.”

Gannon’s family spoke about the person they miss.

“She was a vibrant, loving, sensitive and smart daughter,” Virginia Gannon, Amanda’s mother, said. “She loved animals, loved old people—she thought they were cute—she enjoyed baking and always made sure milestones were celebrated, whether it was a family or friend.”

Amanda Gannon’s parents have established a scholarship in her name at the University of Hawaii Maui College.

The Amanda Leigh Wailana Gannon Memorial Endowed Scholarship will provide at least one gift annually of $3,000 to qualifying single parents.