Thread: Milford man pleads not guilty in crash that killed motorcycl

Milford man pleads not guilty in crash that killed motorcyclist
boston.com
08/22/2011 6:08 PM
By Martine Powers
Globe Correspondent

MILFORD -- Nicolas Guaman, the Milford man accused of dragging a motorcyclist for a quarter mile after a collision even though people frantically tried to get him to stop, showed no emotion when told the motorcyclist was dead, according to a document filed in court today.

Guaman appeared in Milford District Court where he pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including vehicular homicide while under the influence, failure to stop for police, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and reckless conduct creating risk to a child. Bail was set at $100,000 cash.

Guaman, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador who may face deportation by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency following his arrest, was driving a Ford pickup truck with his 6-year-old son as a passenger at the time of the crash.

Guaman was allegedly drunk when his pickup collided with the motorcycle being driven by Matthew Denice, 23, of Milford at the intersections of Congress and Fayette streets around 7:50 p.m. Saturday.

According to an application for a criminal complaint filed by police in court, Denice was trapped in the passenger side wheel well of the truck as Guaman drove away from the scene. Despite frantic efforts by passersby to get him to stop, Gauman allegedly drove for about a quarter mile before Denice fell off the vehicle.

After Guaman was taken into custody, he failed several sobriety tests and had a hard time answering questions from police. He told police that he did not stop his vehicle “because his truck was damaged and he didn’t know what to do,â€

Related:

MILFORD, Mass. -- Matthew Denice’s family was at court in Milford on Monday to see the arraignment of the man who allegedly killed their son in a drunken driving accident.

http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1258906.html#1258906

Family alerted police on driver
Illegal immigrant charged in death of Milford man
By Martine Powers and Maria Sacchetti
Globe Correspondent | Globe Staff
August 23, 2011


Nicolas Guaman (left) is charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence, in the death of Matthew Denice, whose motorcycle collided Saturday with the truck Guaman was driving. (Mark Fisette/ Metrowest Daily News via AP)

MILFORD - Nicolas Guaman, accused of dragging a motorcyclist for a quarter of a mile after a collision, showed not a flicker of emotion when police told him the motorcyclist was dead, a document filed in court yesterday showed.

He simply shrugged, police said.

Guaman appeared yesterday in Milford District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including vehicular homicide while under the influence, failure to stop for police, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and reckless conduct creating risk to a child.

An immigrant from Ecuador living illegally in the United States, Guaman may face deportation by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency following his arrest.

Guaman was allegedly drunk when his Ford pickup collided with a motorcycle ridden by Matthew Denice, 23, of Milford at Congress and Fayette streets about 7:50 p.m. Saturday. Guaman’s 6-year-old son sat next to him in the truck.

As Guaman appeared in court, Denice’s family cried from the front two rows.

Bail was set at $100,000, and Guaman remains in Worcester County jail. He is scheduled to appear in court again Sept. 12. Craig Tavares, Guaman’s court-appointed attorney, declined to comment yesterday because he is not permanently assigned to the case.

The arrest of Guaman and reports that he previously faced criminal charges raised concern about why he had not already been reported to immigration authorities, and highlighted the ongoing debate over a federal initiative to identify illegal immigrants.

Milford police arrested Guaman in 2008 on charges of assault and battery on a police officer and at least one public employee and of breaking and entering, according to the police and the Worcester district attorney’s office. The case was continued without a finding for one year. Police said he also faced a few minor traffic charges dating to 2007, but the district attorney’s office could not confirm that information.

Some officials said the case showed why Massachusetts should embrace the federal program known as Secure Communities, a computer-based system launched in 2008 that automatically cross-checks the fingerprints of everyone who is arrested against immigration databases, alerting immigration authorities so they can take action against those here illegally.

“It’s a textbook example of why we need to join Secure Communities,’’ said Worcester Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis. “This is what we are trying to avoid.’’

State Senator Richard T. Moore, a Democrat from Uxbridge, wrote Governor Deval Patrick yesterday urging him to crack down on illegal immigrants driving without a license.

“The people of Milford are in shock and mourning over the senseless loss of a promising young life,’’ he wrote. “Once again, what can be done to assure the people of Milford and Massachusetts feel safe on their roads and in their neighborhoods?’’

Spokesmen for Patrick did not comment on the debate yesterday, but expressed condolences to Denice’s family.

In a report filed in court, Milford police Officer Angel Arce described “a wild and chaotic scene.’’

Denice was trapped in the truck’s passenger-side wheelwell, screaming, as Guaman drove away, police said. Despite frantic efforts by passersby, who chased after the truck and pounded on the windows, Guaman allegedly drove a quarter of a mile before turning and driving onto a curb, dislodging Denice from the wheelwell.

Then, witnesses told police, Guaman backed off the curb, running over Denice’s body, and continued down the street.

Police cruisers chased him for several blocks before he stopped. When officers opened the door of the truck, they saw Budweiser beer cans on the passenger seat and on the floor. Guaman’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot. The truck’s cab reeked of alcohol, Arce wrote.

When police pulled Guaman from the truck and attempted to handcuff him, a little boy jumped out and began punching and kicking the officers, yelling at them to leave his father alone.

The boy was Johnathan, Guaman’s son. Saturday was his sixth birthday, said Paul Jarvey, a spokesman for the Worcester district attorney’s office.

Guaman failed several sobriety tests, police said. He told police the accident was not his fault and said he did not stop “because his truck was damaged and he didn’t know what to do,’’ the report said.

The signs of impending tragedy were evident two hours before the accident. Guaman, who lives in Milford, had spent the day drinking. His sister-in-law was so concerned she asked her daughter to alert police once Guaman drove away.

Police searched the area but did not find his truck.

The truck Guaman was driving was registered to his brother, Pablo Guaman, who has been charged with allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle, the report said.

Maria Yupanqui, Guaman’s wife of 15 years, said after the arraignment that her husband often drinks excessively.

She wants him to be deported so he can return to Ecuador, where their three older children live.

Denice’s mother, stepfather, and brother talked about the passionate young man devoted to his family and obsessed with Boston sports teams.

“I used to think he was crazy for spending so much money on tickets,’’ said Maureen Maloney, Denice’s mother. “Now, I am so thankful that he got to enjoy every single day on this earth.’’

Her husband, Michael Maloney, said Guaman’s immigration status is less important than the horrific action he appears to have taken Saturday night.

“This isn’t about where he’s from and being illegal,’’ Michael Maloney said. “It’s about humanity.’’

The couple said they are pushing for Guaman to receive a life sentence.

“This is not an accident,’’ Michael Maloney said. “This is a murder. Had the vehicle stopped after the collision, he might not have died.’’

Wilson Valdez, who came to the arraignment, owns a convenience store called Unienvios in Milford, where Guaman and his family were regulars.

Valdez said he is worried that Guaman’s arrest will taint public perception about his community.

“Not everybody is like that,’’ Valdez said. “Most people are hard-working.’’

Martine Powers can be reached at mpowers@globe.com; Maria Sacchetti can be reached at msacchetti@globe.com.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... ?page=full

Related: http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-248114.html

Suspect in Mass. dragging death held without bail

cbs3springfield.com
The Associated Press
Posted: Nov 02, 2011 8:15 AM EDT

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) - An Ecuadorean man charged with dragging a motorcyclist to his death with his pickup truck in Milford last summer has been ordered held without bail.

Nicolas Guaman pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in Worcester Superior Court to a variety of charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter by motor vehicle and motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently and under the influence of alcohol.

Authorities say Guaman is an illegal immigrant who was behind the wheel of a pickup truck on Aug. 20 that struck a motorcycle driven by 23-year-old Matthew Denice. Police allege Guaman did not stop, but drove a quarter of a mile with Denice stuck in the truck's wheel well, even as witnesses banged on the vehicle begging him to pull over.

Guaman's court-appointed attorney had no comment.

http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/15 ... thout-bail