Posted on 07/18/2004 10:46:18 AM PDT by DumpsterDiver
A week ago they were contemplating filing murder charges against him, but on Thursday prosecutors allowed an illegal immigrant to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges of leaving the scene of an accident and failing to render assistance.
Jose Manuel Soto-Cabrales, 25, is expected to serve 120 days at the Clark County Detention Center in connection with the death of 27-year-old Abigail Coleman. Soto-Cabrales hit and killed Coleman on U.S. 93 north of Las Vegas on June 18.
Upon Soto-Cabrales' release, the Immigration and Naturalization Service is expected to deport him.
Soto-Cabrales was originally accused of transporting two illegal immigrants, Osiel Ramirez Giana, 34, and Lucrecia Santos Estaban, 24, but federal prosecutors decided not to pursue those charges.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Clark Peterson said after separately interviewing both Giana and Estaban for three hours, discussing the case with the coroner's office and having the Nevada Highway Patrol "work day and night," he found it was clear the act wasn't even a felony let alone murder.
Peterson said through the investigation he was able to determine Soto-Cabrales was driving from Phoenix to Washington, where he works as an apple picker with Giana and Estaban.
At roughly 3 a.m. on June 18, Coleman apparently was walking in the middle of the highway and Soto-Cabrales' vehicle struck her. Coleman went partially through the windshield.
Nevada Highway Patrol officers said they have not yet determined what Coleman was doing on the deserted stretch of roadway but hope to know more after they talk to her family.
Soto-Cabrales continued driving, but after swerving into a lane of oncoming traffic he lost control of the car and crashed into a ditch. He then took Coleman off the windshield, according to the investigation.
The coroner later determined that Coleman bled to death and that she had cocaine and alcohol in her system when she died.
Peterson said Giana and Estaban resisted leaving the scene of the accident initially, but soon gave in and left because Soto-Cabrales said he wanted to get them medical assistance in Las Vegas for injuries they suffered from the crash.
Giana and Estaban became alarmed at the high speed of Soto-Cabrales' driving, made him stop and got out of the car. Soto-Cabrales continued driving, but later crashed the car, took off the license plates and fled the scene. He successfully evaded the police for 36 hours, according to Peterson.
Peterson said the coroner's office determined it was not unreasonable for Soto-Cabrales to believe the victim was dead.
Nevada Highway Patrol officers determined Soto-Cabrales wasn't driving at an "excessive speed" and was found to have no alcohol or drugs in his system.
Soto-Cabrales was originally accused of transporting two illegal immigrants, Osiel Ramirez Giana, 34, and Lucrecia Santos Estaban, 24, but federal prosecutors decided not to pursue those charges.
I believe a very important part of this story was left out. Did the illegal aliens, Osiel Ramirez Giana and Lucrecia Santos Estaban, ever get back to Washington? Are they they still gainfully, albeit illegally, employed? I'm very worried about these two. (/sarcasm)
Just DAMN!
ping list, please.
This gets me so damm mad!!
Isn't a death while doing a crime, murder?
Great. And just damn.
CRIMINAL INVADER commits murder.
"He successfully evaded the police for 36 hours, according to Peterson."
The Constitution: Amendments 11-27
Constitutional Amendments 1-10 make up what is known as The Bill of Rights.
Amendments 11-27 are listed below.
You and me both. I wonder if law enforcement would've been so nonchalant if the victim had been some kid instead of a drunken, drug user?
Isn't a death while doing a crime, murder?
I don't know, but 120 days just doesn't cut it.
It looks like a hit/run and manslaughter to me.
Didn't something like this happen to a priest a year or so ago that made national news? IIRC, the priest was convicted of a felony.
Different strokes for different folks. The priest should have been a illegal and then it would have been a misdeamor.
I've read that 3 times and still have no idea what it means. Can you paraphrase it for me?
Doing the felons,...urrr jobs Americans won't do. Thank you, President Bush,.....AGAIN,...
Unlikely, considering the INS doesn't exist any more.
I can't say how I feel without violating the posting rules.
The Constitution: Amendments 11-27
Constitutional Amendments 1-10 make up what is known as The Bill of Rights.
Amendments 11-27 are listed below.
What an obscenely lenient sentence. Now if he had been a citizen, he might have faced many years.
The illegals don't have any assets for the state to seize, so there is really no reason to prosecute them, in the eyes of the state.
Not to worry, the boys and girls who run our criminal justice system will go to the ends of the earth to bring real criminals to justice like Bobby Fischer.
Would they do this for a white US citizen?....(as long as he wasnt a congressman or senator I mean)
Peterson said the coroner's office determined it was not unreasonable for Soto-Cabrales to believe the victim was dead.
Say what?....how would it be reasonable unless you got out to see if the victim was breathing or a heart beat was present...
INS will deport him....he will go to the consulate in Mexico...pay his $500...and be back in LA or Someplace U.S.A. in time for cornflakes...
Of course Homieland Security wants more bucks for more laws....to protect us from invaders no less...wonder what they did with the last $500 million
IMO
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.