The judge in the case involving the death of a four-year-old girl has set the bond for $1 million dollars. The man who is accused of running a red light and causing a fatal crash that killed the little girl, has plead not guilty in his Friday court appearance at Douglas County Corrections.
“We just want everyone to know that my client is devastated by this situation,” says the offender’s attorney Joseph Lopez Wilson. “It’s very unfortunate. He is not a father but has young family members and just totally devastated by it.”
He is charged with driving under suspicion and if found guilty will serve a maximum sentence of five years.
“The bond was set at one-million dollars. I thought it was excessive for this type of case,” says Wilson. “But I think the judge felt some pressure because of the media and the little girl dying. I’d probably do the same if I was in the judge’s position. You can’t blame him for that.”
The offender has had a hold placed on him by Federal Authorities because he is an illegal immigrant. There’s no expiration date to the immigration hold.
His driver’s license had been suspended in 2002 after his third conviction on DUI.
A check of court records by Channel 6 News found that he had several prior traffic convictions. His license was suspended in 2002 after he was convicted of drunk driving for the third time.
It’s unclear how Rangel-Ochoa could have gone through the courts several times over a ten year period, and obtained a valid drivers license while being in the country illegally.
The offender was driving his brother-in-law’s pickup. It’s possible the brother-in-law who owns the pickup could face charges if he knowingly allowed a suspended or unlicensed driver to use the vehicle. A few cases are filed every year in Omaha as a way for investigators to try to keep suspended drivers from having access to a vehicle.
According to sources, at any given time, there are 100,000 drivers in Nebraska who have suspended licenses.
The exclusive purpose of this article is educational and it is not intended as either legal advice or a general solution to any specific legal problem. Corporate offices for Nave DWI Defense Attorneys are located at 432 N. Franklin Street, Suite 80, Syracuse, NY 13204; Telephone No.: 1-866-792-7800. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney Advertising.
