Driver sentenced for striking two pedestrians in Douglas


Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 3:37 PM MST


Shar Porier
Wick News Service


BISBEE — Ramon Parra Saucedo, 67, was sentenced to four-and-a-quarter years in prison for hitting two women with his vehicle as they walked across 15th Street after church in Douglas on Sept. 25, 2010.

Superior Court Judge Wallace Hoggatt said that the life-threatening injuries sustained by Miriam Susan Krentz and Shirley Gregory and their long, on-going road to recovery were aggravating factors in determining the sentences.

The judge sentenced Saucedo to two years for striking Krentz with his 1987 Nissan pick-up truck and two and one-quarter years for striking Gregory. Those sentences are to run consecutively. He must serve at least 85 percent of the sentences. He was also sentenced to six months for driving under the influence. The time Saucedo spent in jail, a total of 398 days, will come off of his sentence.

Though Hoggatt was sympathetic to Saucedo’s age, he said, “Frankly, I take no pleasure in this, not that I don’t think the the act deserves punishment. It does â€-The punishment has to fit the crime â€- and the very serious nature of the injuries to the two victims â€- In my mind, the blood alcohol level did significantly factor in to the reckless situation you caused â€-”

Saucedo was found guilty by a jury last month of driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol level of 0.10 and two counts of reckless endangerment to the women with a substantial risk of imminent death.

Prosecuting attorney Daniel Akers noted in the hearing that Saucedo had a previous misdemeanor hit-and-run and DUI in 1991 and other misdemeanor charges from years ago that were listed in the pre-sentence report.

Saucedo’s defense attorney David Thorn stated his client was a poor man who worked hard to provide for his family. He said, “My client feels horrible about the accident â€- He’s not a bad guy. He made a mistake.”

Thorn also said that sentencing Saucedo to consecutive sentences instead of running them concurrently “would be revenge.”

Saucedo did not speak on his own behalf or offer any apologies directly to the women during the sentencing hearing.

Both women gave Hoggatt an account of what their lives had been like since the accident that nearly cost them their lives, what they had lost and how far they still had to go to get back their health and mobility. They also said they felt pity for Saucedo and Gregory said that she hoped he gets help during his prison term.

However, Thorn filed a motion for a new trial claiming that Akers prevented his client’s right to a fair trial through prosecutorial misconduct. Thorn says Akers “asked a number of speculative, argumentative and other improper questions” that are contrary to the Arizona Rules of Evidence and Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure. Arguments on that motion will be heard by Hoggatt at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 2.

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Debbie wrote on Nov 16, 2011 4:45 AM:

    " A mistake is spelling a word wrong or adding something wrong not Drunk driving and Maiming people on the street. Drunk Driving and being poor are you kidding me. If he would just stop drinking maybe just maybe he would not be so poor. Comparing jay walking to Drunk driving and almost killing these woman on the street, Please no comparison at all. Just a sad excuse. Take him out of that truck and put him in jail. "

    Mr Bacon wrote on Nov 10, 2011 9:46 AM:

    " I have lived in Douglas the majority of my life. We will continue to have things like this happen until people obey the traffic laws. I don't agree with Mr. Saucedo drinking while driving why weren't these women obeying the law and crossing at a crosswalk? I see law enforcement, government vehicles, and the general public committing traffic violations multiple times on a daily basis. What no one seems to acknowledge is our non-schalant attitude is what is the cause. People should cross at crosswalks, cars shouldn't pass others on the right ecause they're in a hurry. It's common sense really, but this town has lacked that for many years =( "

    concerned citizen wrote on Nov 9, 2011 10:36 PM:

    " This is very, very sad for everyone involved. But these same women are still jaywalking and so is everyone else who parks in the parking lot across from St. Luke's church! If Mr. Saucedo had not been drinking, would it have been his fault? "

    Fuzzy wrote on Nov 9, 2011 9:44 PM:

    " Good ridance. I still remember when the two Sierra Vista girls who were killed when a Douglas citizen drove drunk in the wrong direction on I-10 after 5 prior DUI arrests. It should not take a catostrophic event like two pedestrians to be hit by a drunk driver to enforce the laws with teeth. The Douglas Police Department should continue its efforts in DUI enforcement to ensure no other innocents are injured. Mr. Thorn, I hope your mother, father, son daughter never get hit/ killed/ injured by a drunk driver to say "It was just a mistake" from a poor person. "

    catgoddess wrote on Nov 9, 2011 6:13 PM:

    " He made a "MISTAKE"???? He was drunk! He probabaly is a habitual drunk; this is not likely to be the first of last dui he will ever get. GET HIM OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF ANY OPPORTUNITY TO MAIME OR KILL SOMEONE. "

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