A plea deal is off the table for a woman who police says was in a drunken stupor when she careened onto a baseball field and ran over a popular South Dade High principal, after going to court high.
With what police say was a blood alcohol content hovering around three times the legal limit, 52-year-old Marilyn Aguilera crashed into a children’s baseball game in South Florida, severely injuring one man and trapping another man, local high school principal Javier Perez, under her car.
Aguilera previously signed the state’s plea deal will have her serve five years in prison and three years on probation.
“Yes, I understand the full extent. I am guilty,” said Aguilera during the hearing.
However, in an unexpected twist, Miami-Dade County Judge Diane Ward withdrew the plea deal. Aguilera was expected to take a plea deal that would have her serve seven years in prison, but moments before the hearing she tested positive for marijuana.
As a result, the presiding judge called off the arraignment and ordered Aguilera re-arrested for violating the conditions of her release from jail.
While this chapter is over for Aguilera, Perez must live with her actions for the rest of his life.
On Friday, state prosecutor Laura Adams read an emotional statement penned by Perez’s wife, Maytee Perez. “On April 26, 2016, my family’s life was forever changed,” Adams read. “This tragedy caused my husband to be condemned to a lifetime of living without his legs.”
The principal’s family chose not to be in court Friday.
Authorities said Aguilera was driving her SUV under the influence when she veered off the road and struck Perez at a West Miami-Dade park, where the principal was attending his son’s Little League game.
Upwards of 20 children under the age of 6 witnessed the crash.
“My children’s innocence is gone. They are no longer carefree and worry-free kids,” said Adams as she read Maytee Perez’s statement. “They look for the possibility of danger in every situation.”
Davide said she and her client are aware of the toll the accident took on Perez and his loved ones. “This is a case where every day they’re seeing the impact, and I think that’s why it’s so overwhelming for everybody involved,” she said. “That’s why I told Marilyn that she needs to really prove herself.”
In her statement, Perez’s wife had the following to say about her husband’s day-to-day life: “The experience is pain daily. As much as we strive for a sense of normalcy, his life, our life will never be the same.”
Aguilera will serve the maximum sentence for driving under the influence and causing serious bodily harm.
During her three years of probation, she will be required to wear an ankle monitor and enroll in a drug and alcohol abuse program.
Watch the video report below for more details:
Source: OpposingViews,