FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Case # 15CF1773
Date: August 28, 2018
TWO MEN CONVICTED OF FATAL HIT-AND-RUN AFTER SPEEDING THROUGH RED LIGHT AND KILLING 9-YEAR-OLD BOY IN CROSSWALK
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Two men were convicted today of a fatal hit-and-run crash after speeding through red light and killing a 9-year-old boy in a crosswalk.
| Defendant | Charges | Maximum Sentence | Court Date |
| Roderick Kent Jerro, 53, Orange | Found guilty by a jury today of the following felony counts:
Sentencing Enhancements
|
22 years in state prison | Sentencing
Oct 12, 2018 10:30 a.m.
Department C-51, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana |
| Miguel Villagomez, 29, Anaheim | Charged on Aug. 10, 2015, with the following felony count:
|
Six years in state prison | Sentencing
Oct 12, 2018 10:30 a.m.
Department C-51, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana |
Circumstances of the Case
- At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2015, Villagomez got into a minor traffic collision with Jerro’s vehicle on Tustin Street and Palm Avenue in Orange and attempted to drive away. Jerro pursued Villagomez’s vehicle.
- During this chase, both defendants sped northbound through a red light at the intersection of North Glassell Street and Wilson Avenue.
- In the intersection, Jerro hit 9-year-old Jesse Rosales as he was crossing the street with his older sister.
- Both Jerro and Villagomez failed to stop to render aid or assistance to the victim. The defendants continued speeding away from the accident.
- Villagomez continued to drive northbound, attempted to make a left turn on West Taft Avenue, and crashed into a brick wall, which disabled his vehicle.
- Jerro stopped his vehicle near the site where Villagomez had crashed.
- Rosales was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
- Both defendants were arrested a short time later by the Orange Police Department, who investigated this case.
Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Bokosky, Homicide Unit