http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/monte ... 036959.htm

Posted on Fri, Jul. 14, 2006

Dad pleads not guilty to death

By VIRGINIA HENNESSEY
Herald Salinas Bureau

A Big Sur man said Thursday he is not guilty of vehicular manslaughter in the death of his 8-year-old daughter.

Pedro Sagrero Rivera made his first appearance in court Thursday. Through an interpreter, he told Judge Robert Moody he understood the charges against him. "But," he added, "I'm not guilty."

Outside of court, his attorney said Sagrero was transported by sheriff's deputies to a Salinas mortuary Wednesday night so he could view the body of his daughter, Jacqueline Sagrero.

In addition to vehicular manslaughter in her death, 43-year-old Sagrero is charged with hit-and-run driving causing injury, auto theft and causing a death by committing a negligent act while driving.

He was allegedly driving a pickup that rolled down an embankment on Clear Ridge Road on Saturday, killing the 8-year-old girl. Prosecutors allege Sagrero, who lives on Clear Ridge Road, left the scene of the accident, then stole a neighbor's vehicle to flee the area.

He turned himself in at the Monterey Police Department Monday and was arrested by the California Highway Patrol.

While the CHP said an opened 12-pack of beer was found strewn around Sagrero's wrecked truck, the delay in arresting him apparently prevented prosecutors from filing drunken driving and gross vehicular manslaughter charges against him.

Sagrero is in custody in Monterey County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bail. Defense attorney Miguel Hernandez said he was contacted by the Mexican Consulate on Wednesday and asked to represent Sagrero, a Mexican national.

Hernandez said the Monterey County Sheriff's Office Wednesday night agreed to transport Sagrero to the Healey Mortuary so he could view his daughter's body, which was shipped to Mexico for burial on Thursday.

A preliminary hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence to hold Sagrero for trial was set for July 28.


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Virginia Hennessey can be reached at 753-6751 or vhennessey@montereyherald.