Results matching “guevara” from Crime & Courts

Rodrigo Guevara could have faced, at the most, four years in state prison for felony hit-and-run - despite his egregious driving that left one girl severely injured on April 9 in Wilmington. Deputy District Attorney Danette Gomez said she isn't angry with the judge for offering Guevara three years. She's angry that, without intoxication, that the max he could get was four years, according to California Vehicle Code Section 20001(a)(2).

It doesn't get much better when the victim dies. Gomez, who is also prosecuting Cristian Herrera for a 1992 double fatal hit-and-run in San Pedro, said he is facing only eight years and four months maximum if convicted.

Are you angry? You can channel that into something productive by contacting your state representatives. They're in charge of fixing the punishments. Not sure who to contact? Look here and enter your zip code on the left hand side, down a few scrolls.

Previous blog entries on Guevara are here.

I just got word that Rodrigo Guevara pleaded no contest in Long Beach Superior Court on Thursday to one count of felony hit-and-run. He'll return to court Nov. 4 to be sentenced to an expected three years in state prison. The maximum penalty the charge carries is four years.

Working on a fuller story, but don't have much more to add than that at this point.

To read previous entries about this case, click here.

I got this over the weekend:

"I, as well as my community would like to get an update on the April 9,2008 hit and run on p.c.h. and ronan.in which 2 girls were injured . I heard through word of mouth that the alleged suspect is on trial. there has been no mention of the 2 girls or how they are ."

Rodrigo Guevara, 19, of Wilmington, was scheduled for trial last week. However, he is now scheduled to return to court Wednesday for a "pre-plea report" and pretrial. Although I have not confirmed this with anybody on the case, this usually signifies they are on the verge of working out a plea deal. I'll keep you posted.

I don't have an update on the injured girls beyond what I wrote in the last story about the incident. Follow the jump to see the story that ran July 3 on Guevara's preliminary hearing.

And thanks for the questions!

While a detective ticked off the traumatic injuries suffered by 14-year-old Kelsey Fukuda as a result of being struck while walking in a crosswalk by Rodrigo Guevara, the baby-faced Guevara - facing up to four years in state prison for leaving the scene of an accident -didn't show really any reaction. One of his family members, though, was obviously torn-up by hearing the impact her speeding brother had on the two Wilmington Middle School girls he hit.

The young woman cried when registered nurse Jackie Block testified about watching the collision, then getting out to check on the girls. "Thank you for stopping to help," she whispered to Block as she left the courtroom after testifying.

As Detective Charles Martin, trying to keep his own emotions in check, spoke of how Kelsey will probably never speak or walk again, the woman sobbed in the back of the courtroom.

Kelsey Fukuda, the 13-year-old Wilmington Middle School student who suffered severe head trauma when she was run down in a crosswalk April 9, is still listed in critical condition at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Her friend, Elizabeth Salas, 14, whose condition last week was upgraded to fair, is no longer at the hospital, spokeswoman Julie Rees said today.

Rodrigo Tomas Guevara, 19, the Wilmington man who allegedly drove away after hitting the students at Ronan Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway, was in court today in Long Beach. His case was put over to May 23.

He remains jailed.

I finally made head-way reporting on yesterday's hit-and-run in Wilmington that injured two Wilmington Middle School 8th Graders. The first hurdle was overcome when I figured out that the LAPD Media Relations office gave out the wrong name for the suspect. Rodrigo Tomas Guevara, 19, is being held on $500,000 bail and will likely be charged tomorrow with felony hit-and-run. He had a suspended driver's license, which I learned from a South Traffic Bureau detective after finally getting through to the Harbor Division's watch commander and being pointed in the right direction.

While I was rebuffed at the school, LAUSD Board Member Richard Vladovic was helpful and responsive. He and Earl Perkins, the assistant superintendent of school operations, let us know that the school and the girls' families are getting plenty of support and counseling from District crisis teams, as well as those sent by the City of Los Angeles. 

One of the girls, Kelsey Fukuda, is fighting hard. The 13-year-old suffered head trauma and is on breathing machines. Her friend, Elizabeth Salas, 14, is in serious condition.

Look for the full story in tomorrow's Daily Breeze and on www.dailybreeze.com.

And, of course, everyone here is wishing the girls and their families all the best.