Thread: Plea expected in Scott Gardner case

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.

http://www.wcnc.com

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Alleged drunk driver expected to enter guilty plea

05:59 AM EST on Friday, February 17, 2006
By TONY BURBECK / 6NEWS
E-mail Tony: TBurbeck@WCNC.com


Sources tell 6NEWS that Ramiro Gallegos will enter a guilty plea in court Friday, and be sentenced to prison.

Gallegos is the illegal immigrant accused of driving drunk and killing Scott Gardner.


Several of Scott Gardner's relatives said they plan to be in the courtroom Friday for Gallegos' plea.

Scott Gardner’s family said it is happy to avoid a trial, but are not happy with the expected punishment.

Assault with a deadly weapon, habitual impaired driving, felony hit and run, driving with a revoked license, DWI, failure to wear a seatbelt, reckless driving, and felony murder are the charges against Ramiro Gallegos.

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

Family members said the punishment is too light for the alleged crime.

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

On June 16th, 2005, Scott and Tina Gardner and their two kids were on vacation and driving to the beach. Gallegos was on the same highway. Troopers say he crossed the center line, hit the Gardner's head on then ran away. According to Police, Gallegos’ blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit.

Gallegos is an illegal immigrant with three prior DWI convictions.

Scott Gardner died in the accident. Tina Gardner is in a nursing home recovering from a brain injury.

The Gardner children, daughter Avery and son Jackson, live with Tina's parents.

"They go see their mom, and Jackson, he understands and he's very well adjusted to everything," Jackson said.

Friday will be the first time family members see Gallegos face to face.

Jackson said she is unsure what she will say at the sentencing.

Family members tell 6NEWS that due to Gallegos' illegal immigrant status, he could be detained for another five years after serving his sentence, and then be deported.

http://www.news14charlotte.com

Gallegos to appear in court
Updated: 2/17/2006 11:48 AM
By: News 14 Carolina


CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The illegal immigrant police say was driving drunk when he hit and killed a Gaston County teacher will appear in Brunswick County Superior Court on Friday.

Ramiro Gallegos faces second-degree murder charges in the death of Scott Gardner.

Gardner’s family said they’ve been told Gallegos will plead guilty at 3 p.m., but the district attorney’s office will not comment on a plea agreement. It did confirm, however, that Gallegos will be in court Friday afternoon.

It was last July when Scott Gardner and his family were on their way to a beach vacation when, police say, Gallegos was driving while intoxicated and struck the Gardners’ car. Authorities said this is the fifth time Gallegos has been charged with drunk driving.

Both Gardner children who were in the car escaped without serious injury, but Scott’s wife, Tina, was critically hurt. She remains in a rehabilitation facility. Family friends said she is unable to speak, only able to move her right arm slightly.

Friends of the Gardner family said they have mixed emotions about Friday’s hearing.

“It’s going to be a lot easier for both families and the friends not to have to sit through a trial and relive what happened; at the same time I’m not sure that he’s going to get the punishment that a lot of people in this area would like to see happen just because it has been so tragic for our community and for the families and the people that knew the Gardner family,â€

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