Case # 15CF1773
Date: August 7, 2018
TWO MEN TO FACE TRIAL FOR FATAL HIT-AND-RUN AFTER SPEEDING THROUGH RED LIGHT AND KILLING 9-YEAR-OLD BOY IN CROSSWALK
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Two men are scheduled to face trial tomorrow for a fatal hit-and-run crash after speeding through a red light and killing a 9-year-old boy in a crosswalk.
Defendant |
Charges |
Maximum Sentence |
Court Date |
Roderick Kent Jerro, 53, Orange |
Charged on Aug. 10, 2015, with the following felony counts:
Sentencing Enhancement
|
25 years to life in state prison |
Jury Trial opening statements Aug. 8, 2018, 9:00 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 |
Jury Trial opening statements Aug. 8, 2018 Department C-51 |
Circumstances of the Case
- At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2015, Villagomez is accused of getting into a minor traffic collision with Jerro’s vehicle on Tustin Street and Palm Avenue in Orange and attempting to drive away.
- Jerro is accused of pursuing Villagomez’s vehicle. Both defendants are accused of committing multiple traffic violations including speeding, running multiple stop lights and stop signs, and driving on the wrong side of the street.
- The defendants are accused of speeding northbound through a red light at the intersection of North Glassell Street and Wilson Avenue where Jerro is further accused of hitting 9-year-old Jesse Rosales as the victim was crossing the street with his older sister.
- Jerro and Villagomez are accused of failing to stop to render aid or assistance to the victim.
- Villagomez is accused of continuing to drive northbound, attempting to make a left turn on West Taft Avenue, and crashing into a brick wall, which disabled his vehicle.
- Jerro is accused of stopping 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