Two local men on trial for the hit and run killing of a 9-year-old boy in Orange

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: Roderick Kent Jerro, 53, Orange

Charged on Aug. 10, 2015, with the following felony counts:

• Vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence
  Hit and run and permanent injury and death
  Sentencing Enhancement
• Fleeing the scene after committing vehicular manslaughter

Maximum Sentence: 25 years to life in state prison

Jury Trial opening statements on Aug. 8, 2018, 9:00 a.m. at Department C-51, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana

Defendant: Miguel Villagomez, 29, Anaheim

Charged on Aug. 10, 2015, with the following felony count:

• Vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence

Maximum Sentence: Six years in state prison

Jury Trial opening statements on Aug. 8, 2018 at 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.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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