Woman Pleads Guilty as Accessory in Tragic Freeway Shooting Resulting in Death of 6-Year-Old Boy

woman Pleads Guilty as Accessory Tragic Freeway Shooting Death of 6-Year-Old Boy Wynne Lee

By Jackelyn Cornejo , Parent Herald Apr 27, 08:10 am

Photo: (Photo : LUIS SANCHEZ SATURNO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

A woman who was driving during a road rage circumstances on the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway, which culminated in her boyfriend shooting a bullet into other cars, leading to the passing of a 6-year-old boy in a car seat, appealed liable on Friday to being an accessory to the crime and carrying a hidden gun in the vehicle.

Wynne Lee Received Four-Year Prison Sentence

Wynne Lee, 26, was immediately sentenced to four years in prison, the highest penalty. However, due to detention credits and time spent in home confinement, Lee has already completed her sentence.

Lee had accrued 2,106 days in credit, surpassing the 1,460 days her prison sentence would have been. These additional credits would cover any potential probation as well.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard King stated he would not have granted probation to Lee regardless. The plea was open, with no assurances on sentencing from the judge or prosecutors.

On April 12, Lee's boyfriend, 26-year-old Marcus Anthony Eriz of Costa Mesa, was convicted of 40 years to life in prison for shooting the bullet that murdered Aiden Leos on May 21, 2021, on the freeway in Yorba Linda.

The boy's parents chose not to attend Friday's hearing, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Dan Feldman.

Judge King emphasized that he would not have granted probation to Lee as she played a role in a crime of "great violence" against a victim who was "particularly vulnerable."

He noted that Lee became aware of Eriz's actions and took steps to help him evade authorities, but acknowledged she had no prior criminal record.

Regarding the decision to place Lee on home confinement after she was charged, Judge King remarked, "It's not my job to address that. It happened. The defendant gets credit for that as if she were incarcerated."

Eriz was sentenced in January for second-degree murder and shooting at an occupied vehicle, with jurors finding true accusations of personal use of a firearm.

Freeway Shooting Leading to Passing of 6-Year-Old Boy

Aiden's mom, Joanna Cloonan, was driving her Chevrolet Sonic with the kid in a car seat in the back, taking him to kindergarten in Yorba Linda.

At around 8 a.m., Cloonan and her son were cut off by Lee and Eriz in a Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen. A confrontation ensued, leading to Eriz firing a shot from a 9mm Glock, fatally hitting Aiden.

Cloonan heard a loud bang followed by her son's cry, immediately pulling over. Aiden, who had just turned 6, sustained fatal injuries and died in his mother's arms.

Lee and Eriz were en route to their workplace at Gerber Glass, a collision repair shop, when the incident occurred. Eriz kept his loaded 9mm gun in the car.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer criticized state law for allowing day-for-day credits for defendants in home confinement.

Spitzer expressed dismay over the situation, highlighting the stark contrast between the tragic funeral of young Aiden and the leisurely kayak trip enjoyed by Wynne and Marcus in the warmth of a California summer day.

He condemned the actions of the individual involved, who chose to aid the murderer in concealing crucial evidence rather than coming forward during the widespread search for justice.

Spitzer criticized the leniency of the legal system, particularly in light of the perpetrator receiving credits and benefits despite being charged as an accessory to the heinous crime of a child's murder.

He emphasized the community's collective outrage over such leniency and called for stricter laws to ensure justice for victims and their families.