Image Credit: Mark Skovorodko, CC By 4.0
(North County Beat) – A former Marine who led police on a high-speed pursuit ending in a fatal crash in Escondido was sentenced on July 24 to seven years in state prison.
John Eugene Brand, a lance corporal stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, pleaded guilty to evading causing serious bodily injury in connection with the death of 18-year-old Shevondia Compare-Bell in December 2023.
Brand, 22, also received a concurrent sentence of more than three years for an attempted carjacking with a knife in South Bay. At the time of the deadly chase, Brand was out on bail for the carjacking charge.
The incident began on December 18 when police responded to reports of shoplifting at Dick’s Sporting Goods on Auto Park Way. Brand was driving a stolen pickup truck with Compare-Bell and another woman as passengers.
When police arrived, Brand sped away, leading officers on a chase onto Washington Avenue. While attempting a high-speed turn onto Fig Street, Brand lost control of the vehicle, which then crashed into a retaining wall.
Compare-Bell succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, and the other passenger sustained injuries as well. Brand fled the crash scene but was apprehended by officers a block away. Authorities confirmed that the stolen truck belonged to the U.S. Marine Corps.
