Published Friday February 19, 2010
Driver will be deported

By Andrew J. Nelson
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A man whose van crashed into and critically injured a 7-year-old boy in August was sentenced to time served on an unrelated immigration charge and will be required to leave the U.S.

Mariano Cabrera-Mejia, the 31-year-old who in August struck Ethan Hann, now 8, had pleaded guilty to re-entering the U.S. after being deported, a felony. He is a Mexican national.

Federal Judge Joseph Bataillion warned Cabrera-Mejia in court Friday that he would face further prison time if he re-entered the U.S. without the permission of the Department of Homeland Security.

Hann was critically injured near 30th Avenue and Pacific Street after the youngster rode his bike in front of the van Cabrera-Mejia was driving.
Cabrera-Mejia did not have a valid driver's license at the time, authorities have said.

The boy continues to recover.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100219/NEWS97/100219501