Driver Of Vehicle Enters Guilty Plea in ASU Official's Death

August 22nd, 2007 @ 1:30am
by Associated Press

MESA, Ariz. - An illegal immigrant who struck and killed an Arizona State University Foundation official, has pleaded guilty instead of going to trial.

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office says Yesenia Angulo-Gastelum, 26, of Phoenix admitted leaving the scene of a collision that killed Micheal Boulden, 37, the former chief of staff of the ASU Foundation.

On Feb. 18, Boulden was riding his bicycle in north Phoenix in the early morning hours when Angulo-Gastelum struck him while driving east on her way to work.

Police said Angulo-Gastelum drove off and Boulden was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Angulo-Gastelum will face between 1.5 and 3.75 years in jail, said County Attorney's Office spokesman Mike Anthony Scerbo. She is also eligible for probation.

Prosecutors said Boulden's family approves of the plea agreement.

Her sentencing has been set for Oct. 5.

It has not yet been determined whether Angulo-Gastelum will face deportation. Her two children are U.S. citizens.

Investigators spent three days trying to determine Boulden's identity, finally using a shipping label on his red bicycle to identify him.

Boulden joined the ASU Foundation in 2005 where he managed special projects, human resources and board relations, according to the university.

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