LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nearly a year after a deadly e-scooter crash in the southwest valley, the driver who ran a red light and hit two brothers on e-scooters was sentenced to six months in jail Tuesday.
Same Girma entered a no contest plea to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in a courtroom packed with family and supporters wearing badges with Christopher Soto’s face. The plea means Girma admitted there was enough evidence to convict him but did not admit guilt.
Video evidence showed Girma’s black car passing all other stopped traffic and entering the intersection at Warm Springs and Torrey Pines last March. Girma apologized to the family during the hearing.
Prosecution sought maximum sentence
The Clark County District Attorney’s Office charged Girma with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and recommended the maximum sentence of six months in jail.
“It was on the border of being upgradeable to reckless driving, resulting in death, which would have been a one to six [year] range,” a prosecutor said.
Girma’s defense attorney asked for probation and placed some blame on the victims.
“Really in this case, we have a 22-year-old male on a motorized scooter that has a maximum speed allowable of 15 mph. According to the detective in this case who investigated, he believes he was going approximately 35 miles an hour, so more than double the speed,” said John Turco, Girma’s defense attorney.
Family delivers emotional impact statements
Christopher’s mother, Catherine Velasquez, read a victim impact statement as the defendant wiped away tears.
“At 14 years old, he watched his brother die in the street while he was in shock and suffering tremendous pain,” she said. “You did this to my boys. You did this to our family. You had a red light. You didn’t care. I hope you see my son’s lifeless body in the street every day, every day you close your eyes.”
Christopher’s younger brother Carlos, who was blinded in one eye in the crash, also asked the judge to sentence Girma to the maximum.
“Every day I suffer the consequences of this man’s actions while he faces little to none… Because of this man’s negligence, my brother Christopher was killed,” Carlos said.
Judge imposes maximum sentence
The judge sentenced Girma to the maximum six months in jail, but the family said it was not justice.
“No. The laws need to change. It’s not okay to just say, ‘Oh, I wasn’t paying attention,’ and you ran red lights and kill people,” Velasquez said.
The family said they are now looking for a lawmaker to help them champion a law in Christopher’s honor to increase the penalty for misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Girma will also have to pay $10,000 in restitution and his driving privileges are revoked for one year.
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