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ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT GETS 10 YEARS FOR TWO FELONIES
ASSOCIATED PRESS
01/04/2006

An illegal immigrant who caused a wreck that sent a woman to the hospital for more than six weeks and fled the scene was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison.

Juan Marin, a 28-year-old from Mexico who lived in Tyler, pleaded guilty to the third-degree felonies intoxicated assault and failure to stop and render aid. Judge Jack Skeen Jr., of the 241st District Court, sentenced him to the maximum 10-year prison terms, to run concurrently, and ordered him to pay about $49,000 in restitution for the victim's medical and vehicle expenses.

On Aug. 12, while intoxicated, Marin struck a purple Geo Tracker on Texas Highway 64 West and fled the scene, police at the scene said.

The Tracker, driven by Natasha L. Allen of Ben Wheeler, exited the Wal-Mart parking lot onto Texas 64 around 1:40 p.m. when she was struck by Marin's black Chevrolet Malibu. Ms. Allen was ejected from her car.

Marin fled the scene, but was followed by witnesses who called police. He was apprehended on Thompson Lane. Ms. Allen was taken to a Tyler hospital in critical condition.

Assistant Smith County District Attorney Joe Murphy said Ms. Allen spent more than six weeks in the hospital and had to relearn how to walk, talk and do things for herself.

Defense attorney Don Davidson represented Marin.




©Tyler Morning Telegraph 2006