Thread: Driver in fatal I-15 accident pleads not guilty. Utah again!

He does not speak English. Hmm!!!!!!!!! So he could not comment.

FARMINGTON, Utah (AP) - A motorist pleaded not guilty to leaving the scene of an accident where a Davis County teenager was killed as she crossed Interstate-15 on foot.

David Romero, 44, also pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to obstruction of justice.

Each misdemeanor charge is punishable by up to a year in jail.

Chelsea Smith-Peaslee was taking a short cut to a mall on Dec. 1 when she bolted across the highway. Authorities tracked Romero down using a license plate that was knocked off his car during the accident

Plea deal delayed in Layton hit-and-run
Questions are raised about man's immigration status
By Ben Winslow
Deseret Morning News
Published: January 29, 2008
FARMINGTON — Questions about a man's immigration status have delayed a possible plea deal in the hit-and-run death of a 15-year-old Layton girl.
David Romero, 44, appeared in 2nd District Court on Monday for a pre-trial conference. After two hours of delays, Davis County prosecutors announced that Romero intended to plead guilty as charged to leaving the scene of an accident and obstructing justice, both class A misdemeanors.

"He is legally here but not a citizen," Deputy Davis County Attorney Mike DiReda told the judge. "The issue is, would his pleas impact his ability to remain in the U.S.?"

Chelsea Smith-Peaslee and a cousin were crossing I-15 near the Layton Hills Mall on Dec. 1 when Chelsea was hit by a car. The Utah Highway Patrol said that after hitting her, Romero fled the area — failing to stop and call police.

He then cleaned his 2002 Ford Mustang, prosecutors allege, dumped it in a West Valley City field and reported it stolen. Romero was tracked down through a license plate left by the side of the road.

Prosecutors have said that barring any other illegal activity, Romero would likely have not been charged had he stopped. In court, Romero's attorney said his client needed to meet with an immigration attorney to consider the consequences of such a plea.

"We want to make sure he's informed," Shawn Robinson said. "I don't think it's unreasonable."

Both prosecutors and defense attorneys apologized to Chelsea's family for making them wait nearly three hours only to delay the hearing until Feb. 11. Chelsea's mother, Stephanie Peaslee, called the delay "frustrating."

"Hoping that there will be some justice helps me," she said outside of court.

Peaslee said she still wants to know why he didn't stop.

"I can understand that maybe he was scared and didn't know quite how to deal with it," she said, adding that he should have stopped.

Peaslee said she learned of another woman who witnessed Chelsea's death but also didn't stop. That woman called 911 and wrote a letter to Chelsea's cousin, telling her what happened.

"She was too scared of what she might see, so she continued to drive," Peaslee said.


http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695248280,00.html
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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com

© 2008 Deseret News Publishing Company | All rights reserved

Suspect a no-show in court in hit-and-run death
By Ben Winslow
Deseret Morning News
Published: February 11, 2008
FARMINGTON — Shawn Robinson scanned the audience several times, looking for his client.
"He's not here yet," the defense attorney told the judge. "I've tried to reach him."

"He's almost 45 minutes late," 2nd District Judge Michael Allphin replied. "I'm going to issue a bench warrant, $2,500 cash only."

David Romero was a no-show at his court appearance Monday morning, where he was expected to plead guilty to a pair of misdemeanor charges in connection with the hit-and-run death of a 15-year-old Layton girl.

It stunned the family of Chelsea Smith-Peaslee, who came to court hoping for a resolution in the death of their daughter. Outside court, deputy Davis County Attorney Mike DiReda tried to assure them.

"They'll pick him up, his attorney will meet with him and we'll proceed," he told them.

"Any indication he may have ran?" Chelsea's mother, Stephanie Peaslee, asked.

"There's no indication that he may be fleeing," DiReda replied.

Peaslee seemed frustrated.

"I'm wondering why he's not here," she told reporters outside of court. "It's just another day. I'm trying to move on and get through and it just keeps dragging on and on and on ... "

Last month's hearing for Romero, 44, was delayed so that he could consult with an immigration attorney about his ability to remain in the United States if he were to be convicted. Romero is in the U.S. legally, but questions were raised about whether he could stay if he pleaded guilty.

Romero is charged with leaving the scene of an accident and obstruction of justice, both class A misdemeanors. Chelsea Smith-Peaslee and a cousin were crossing I-15 near the Layton Hills Mall on Dec. 1 when Chelsea was hit by a car. The Utah Highway Patrol said that after hitting her, Romero never stopped.

Davis County prosecutors allege that Romero then cleaned his 2002 Ford Mustang, abandoned it in a West Valley City field and then called police to report it stolen. Romero was tracked down because the car's license plate was among the debris scattered on I-15.

Prosecutors have said that barring any other illegal activity, Romero would likely not have been charged had he stopped.



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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com

© 2008 Deseret News Publishing Company | All rights reserved

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695252212,00.html

So, based on the first post compared to the last 2 articles/posts-----did he ever show up for his hearing??

They mention nothing about him filing a false police report----when he called to report his car stolen.

Was the teenager found at fault in any way----like she darted out in front of him??? I am asking this, because I am wondering why he is not being charged with involuntary manslaughter???

You would think that........leaving the scene of an accident (he was probably drunk)---as well as not showing up for court, would be enough to deport him----even if he was legally in the country when the accident occurred.

Hut and run,