Jury selection set for illegal immigrant in drunk driving crash that killed HPD offic

Jury selection set for illegal immigrant in drunk driving crash that killed HPD officer

chron.com
Brian Rogers
June 4, 2012

Jurors will be selected Monday to decide the fate of an illegal immigrant from Mexico who has admitted guilt in the drunken driving crash that killed 38-year-old Houston Police Officer Kevin Will last year.

Johoan Rodriguez, 27, pleaded guilty Friday to intoxication manslaughter in the May 29, 2011 wreck on 610 North Loop freeway. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. His attorney, Rick DeToto, said he is also eligible for probation.

"He's accepted responsibility for his actions. However, we don't agree what the appropriate punishment should be and that's what we need these 12 people to decide," DeToto said. "He did a bad thing. It's an accident, it's a mistake, it's not an intentional act and unfortunately it was a peace officer. This is just one part of his life. This is just one night."

Prosecutors said Rodriguez was driving about 80 mph with a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit and a bag with small amount of cocaine when he blew through a police barricade where officers were investigating a different drunk driving crash, killing Will instantly.

"The facts are egregious, the scene was horrific and the devastation on the family as well as the entire police department and community can't be totaled," said prosecutor Catherine Evans. "We'll be giving everything we have to the jury and asking them to do justice."

The trial, in state District Judge Vanessa Velasquez's court, is expected to last about a week.

source: Jury selection set for illegal immigrant in drunk driving crash that killed HPD officer - Houston Chronicle

So reminiscent of my son Kevin's death. "It was an accident," says Rodriqez' attorney. What he did'nt say is it was an accident that had now reason to happen and should not have happened. Here illegally, driving drunk, both of those circumstances were not only avoidable and likely prevented that death, but deliberate action on Rodriqez' part. This jury of 1 votes life without parole. The dead officer gave his life and the law does not ask for death, so life without parole is as fair as it gets.

Illegal immigrant admits driving drunk, killing HPD officer

Posted: Jun 04, 2012 4:37 PM PDT Updated: Jun 04, 2012 4:40 PM PDT
By John Donnelly, Reporter

HOUSTON (FOX 26) -
The illegal immigrant accused of driving drunk and killing a Houston police officer pleaded guilty. Now it's up to a jury to decide his punishment.

Johoan Rodriguez plowed through a police roadblock and killed Officer Kevin Will. Will was interviewing an accident witness at the time.

He managed to shove that witness to safety before being hit. Rodriguez's blood alcohol was three times the legal limit. He also had cocaine in the car.

He had been deported twice before and the Mexican national was in the country illegally. He apologized in court for his actions last May.

Now he could get between five years and life. The punishment phase of the trial is expected to last all week.

Illegal immigrant admits driving drunk, killing HPD officer - Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

Move to new section for Americans Killed By illegals.