A 58-year-old Everett man accused of driving under the influence and killing a 19-year-old Bellingham woman with his car on the Fourth of July entered a not guilty plea Thursday at the Skagit County jail courthouse, beginning a legal process that could take many months to resolve.
Kirk Brenon appeared at his arraignment in Skagit County Superior Court on July 16, facing one count of vehicular homicide, one count of driving while under the influence, and one count of driving while license suspended in the third degree. His next court date is set for October 2. Family members of victim Anahi Mendoza, wearing pink shirts bearing her photo, were present in the courtroom for the 10-minute hearing -- a visible reminder of the human weight behind the legal proceedings.
What Happened on the Fourth of July
Anahi Mendoza, 19, was holding a fireworks sign on the sidewalk in Sedro-Woolley on the evening of July 4 when a white car traveling at high speed drove up onto the sidewalk and struck her, according to a probable cause statement filed by investigators. The car did not stop immediately after the collision and continued driving. Sedro-Woolley police located the vehicle parked a block away from the crash scene and found Brenon in the area.
Brenon told officers that a vehicle had passed him on the driver's side and he believed it was going to collide with his car, so he swerved. Officers reported smelling marijuana in the car and on Brenon. He admitted to using marijuana earlier on July 4 and to using methamphetamine a few days before the crash. Toxicology results from blood samples taken after the crash are expected to be a significant part of the evidence presented at any trial. Washington law defines driving under the influence to include being affected by any drug or combination of drugs to an appreciable degree, and the presence of multiple substances in a driver's system is directly relevant to that determination.
Mendoza was from Bellingham. She had been working along the Sedro-Woolley roadway, holding a sign for a fireworks stand during one of the busiest nights of the year for that type of seasonal employment. Her mother, Bethany Mendoza, has spoken publicly about the loss of her daughter in the weeks since the crash. Photos shared by the family show a young woman who decorated the family's apartment to celebrate her mother's graduation from nursing school, a detail that captured something about her character and has resonated widely in the community. She was 19 years old.
Brenon's Criminal History
Court records show Brenon has a significant criminal history, including a prior felony conviction for vehicular assault. That prior conviction is directly relevant to the current case and is likely to be a central factor in any sentencing discussion if he is ultimately convicted. Washington State's Sentencing Reform Act uses an offender score system that incorporates prior criminal history to calculate the standard sentencing range for a given offense. A prior felony conviction for vehicular assault, which involves causing substantial bodily harm through vehicle operation, sits in a category of prior offenses that carries particular weight when calculating the range for a subsequent vehicular offense involving a fatality.
Vehicular homicide in Washington is a Class A felony when the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash. Class A felonies carry the most serious penalties available under state law, with potential sentences ranging from several years to well over a decade in state prison depending on the offender's score. The combination of the current charges and Brenon's prior record means that, if convicted, he would face a significantly higher sentencing range than a first-time offender facing the same charges.
The case is being prosecuted in Skagit County because the crash occurred in Sedro-Woolley, which falls within Skagit County's jurisdiction even though Mendoza herself was a Bellingham resident and the case has drawn attention throughout Whatcom County. The Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is handling the charges. Brenon remains in custody at the Skagit County jail.
What Comes Next in the Case
With an October 2 court date on the calendar, the case is now in the pre-trial phase. That period typically involves the formal exchange of discovery, which includes evidence gathered by investigators such as witness statements, toxicology results, surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras, crash reconstruction analysis prepared by law enforcement specialists, and any other physical or documentary evidence collected during the investigation. Defense attorneys review that material and may file motions challenging the admissibility of specific evidence, contesting the legal basis for the charges, or seeking to exclude information that they argue was improperly obtained.
If Brenon does not reach a plea agreement with prosecutors, the case would proceed to trial, likely sometime in late 2026 or early 2027 depending on the court's calendar and the pace of pre-trial proceedings. Skagit County Superior Court handles felony cases for all of Skagit County, including Sedro-Woolley, Burlington, Anacortes, and surrounding communities, and its calendar reflects the caseload of a county of its size. Felony trials involving complex forensic evidence, such as toxicology analysis and accident reconstruction, often require more preparation time than straightforward cases.
The Mendoza family has been vocal about their desire for justice and accountability in the case, and Washington law provides several formal mechanisms for victim family participation. Families can provide testimony at sentencing hearings about the impact of the crime on their lives. They are also entitled to receive notification of significant court dates through the state's victim notification system, and the Washington State Office of Crime Victims Advocacy provides resources and support for families navigating the criminal justice process.
Sedro-Woolley, located about 30 miles south of Bellingham along the Skagit River, sees regular traffic between the two cities on State Route 20 and serves as a gateway to the North Cascades. The crash occurred in the city's commercial district during Fourth of July celebrations, at a moment when fireworks stands, roadside vendors, and pedestrians are unusually concentrated along streets that are also carrying holiday traffic. For Bellingham residents, Mendoza's death has been a painful reminder of the stakes of impaired driving, and particularly of the vulnerability of workers and bystanders on roadsides where the separation between pedestrians and vehicles depends entirely on drivers staying in control of their cars.
