A man charged in a deadly wreck earlier this year took a plea deal Tuesday in order to avoid a trial and a harsher sentence.
Alexei Mora Gonzalez pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter and leaving the scene of a crash involving death in the May 18 crash that left 29-year-old Tony Rodriguez dead.
"I ask for the forgiveness of everybody here," Gonzalez said Tuesday in court.
As part of the deal, Gonzalez will spend six years in a state prison with 10 years of probation. If found guilty in trial, Gonzalez would have faced 13 to 60 years in prison. Gonzalez will also be required to write a letter addressed to Rodriguez every year on Rodriguez's birthday for 16 years telling the victim what he has learned following the day that took his life.
"He chose from the very beginning to accept responsibility, he stayed in jail even thought he could have left and he accepted what we thinks is a just sentence," said Gonzalez's attorney Sabino Jauregui.
The crash happened at Northwest 57th Avenue and 7th Street in Miami when Gonzalez ran a red light and rammed into Rodriguez, who was making a left turn, according to police. Gonzalez got out of his car and was seen by a witness running away from the scene, police said. A passerby also said Gonzalez tried to get into her car and asked for a ride, police said. Authorities said Gonzalez also ran away from officers who spotted him in the area, but he was quickly arrested.
Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene by Miami Fire Rescue.
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Rodriguez's family chose not to comment following the trial, but told Gonzalez in court that they would never be able to forgive him.
