Lifestyle influencer Summer Wheaton has built a brand on Instagram about positive affirmation based on beauty product recommendations and beliefs.
On Monday, Superior Court officials ordered her to wear a new, unattractive accessory: an alcoholic ankle monitor bracelet. The order was made in connection with a fatal car accident that occurred when a collision with another driver on the Pacific Coast Highway on July 4th.
Wheaton, 33, who appeared in court wearing grey slacks and a grey top, did not speak when she appeared in court, but her lawyer, Elon Burke, entered a plea for not guilty to a charge of serious vehicle manslaughter.
Court Chief Justice Sarah Ellenberg has ordered Wheaton to register for an ankle bracelet device on a Scrum (safe continuous remote alcohol monitor) within the next two days. Wheaton was also ordered to appear in court for a preliminary hearing at the end of April. She is on bail after posting a $230,000 bond.
The accusations stem from a July 4 party at Nobu Malibu last year. Wheaton left the party in Malibu and was driving 81 mph when he collided head-on with a vehicle driven by ride-sharing driver Martin Okeke.
The party’s guest list included celebrities such as Wiz Khalifa, Tom Sandoval, Mike Tyson and Lonzo Ball. According to a false death lawsuit filed by Okeke’s family, Wheaton was one of the crowds of people in the party “red, white, boots, boots,” according to prosecutors.
Just before he arrived at the party, Wheaton posted a photo of himself and his guests at the 2019 Mercedes-Benz.
Court records show Wheaton left her alone with a blood alcohol count of 0.10 while she arrived with her guests.
Okeke was traveling with a teenage passenger when Wheaton crossed the center divider and hit the car. Okeke died in a crash. His passengers survived.
The group that hosted the civil lawsuits and events in which Okeke’s surnames were filed as defendants Wheaton, Nobu Malibu, HWOOD Group LLC and DBDJ LLC. Okeke’s family claims Wheaton was hired to attend the PCH party and was “expected to consume addiction substances.”
Nobu’s lawyers denied Wheaton was hired or contracted by a restaurant in December.
Less than a week after the party, Malibu city officials revoked their permission for the event, citing concerns about traffic and safety. Despite the withdrawn permission, the party continued on July 4th.
Nobu’s lawyer previously told The Times that the city’s decision to withdraw the permit was unfounded and that the restaurant adheres to the city’s initial terms, including an agreement that guests would be closed to the event, and that there was no on-site parking, including the restaurant’s initial terms for the permit.
But Wheaton was driven by the party, according to the lawsuit.
The crash took place in the summer of 2024, but the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office did not present the case to the District Attorney’s Office until October. Prosecutors requested additional information from the sheriff’s investigator, and the case was filed on February 10th.
Wheaton cut down on social media posts after the crash, but seven days after being accused, he posted a video discussing her faith without directly mentioning the fatal crash.
“You may not believe this, but your miracle is on the other side of your worst moment,” she said in a video posted to Instagram on February 17th.
Los Angeles Times reporter Clara Harter contributed to this report.
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