Napa County prosecutors have charged Paul Pelosi, husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with a misdemeanor hit-and-run following a July 3 collision in Northern California, the district attorney’s office said Friday.
Pelosi, 86, faces one misdemeanor count for being involved in a collision and failing to stop to provide information, and a lesser charge alleging he made an unlawful turn. The hit-and-run charge carries a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both, according to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office.
What residents need to know
The crash involved an impact with an unoccupied parked vehicle, prosecutors said. Law enforcement earlier said the incident did not appear to involve alcohol, and Pelosi was not arrested at the scene.
- Pleaded charges: misdemeanor failure to stop and an unlawful turn count.
- Damage: deputies reported Pelosi’s car had "significant damage" consistent with the crash.
- Court date: Pelosi is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 14.
“He had personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle,”
That statement was provided by a spokesperson for the Pelosi family to NBC News the day after the collision. The spokesperson added the former House speaker would not comment further on the private matter.
Background and local context
Authorities from the Napa County Sheriff’s Office found Pelosi not far from the crash site in a vehicle that showed substantial damage, the sheriff’s office said earlier this month. The office also said the damage was consistent with a recent collision.
Records show Paul Pelosi previously pleaded guilty to a driving-under-the-influence offense after a separate crash in the same region in 2022 and was sentenced to five days in jail that August. Prosecutors have not indicated whether prior incidents will affect charging decisions in the current case.
| Charge | Potential Penalty | Court Date |
|---|---|---|
| Collision and not stopping to provide information (misdemeanor) | $1,000 fine and/or up to 6 months county jail | Aug. 14 |
| Unlawful turn (lesser charge) | Not specified by DA | Aug. 14 |
As the case proceeds, local drivers and residents may see routine updates from the district attorney’s office or the sheriff’s department. News Block will monitor filings and court proceedings in Napa County and report further developments.
— Sofia Delgado, California Correspondent
