http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/13896503.htm

Posted on Fri, Feb. 17, 2006

6:45 am |

Plea expected in Scott Gardner case


Observer Staff Reports

The man charged in the death of a popular Gaston County teacher last summer will appear in court today and reportedly enter a plea in his case.

Ramiro Gallegos is scheduled for a hearing in Brunswick County on charges of second-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, habitual impaired driving, felony hit-and-run, driving with a revoked license, driving while under the influence, reckless driving and failure to wear a seat belt.

WCNC-TV, the Observer's news partner, reports that Gallegos will enter a guilty plea and receive a prison sentence.

Gallegos, an illegal immigrant with several prior DWI convictions, is charged in the death of Scott Gardner.

"As far as I know, he will have 14 years without any chance of parole," Gardner's mother-in-law, Brenda Jackson, told WCNC.

"He killed my son-in-law, and my daughter is in a nursing home," Jackson added. "There's no kind of punishment that really will be sufficient."

The wreck happened last June 16, when a vehicle driven by Gallegos crashed into a vehicle driven by Scott Gardner. Gardner's wife, Tina, and their two children also were in the vehicle, and the family was in the midst of a beach vacation.

Police say Gallegos' vehicle crossed the center line and crashed into Gardner's vehicle.

Scott Gardner was killed in the accident. Tina Gardner remains hospitalized, recovering from head injuries.

The Gardners' children are living with Tina Gardner's parents.