A Las Vegas justice of the peace dismissed two charges Tuesday against Jakari Miles, 22, in connection with a July crash that killed 28-year-old Roberto Navarro-Rico. Miles still faces charges of DUI resulting in death and reckless driving resulting in death. The case was bound over to District Court for trial on those counts.
Police said Miles was driving 56 mph in a 35 mph zone on Highland Drive south of Edna Avenue when he slammed into the back of a parked semi-truck. Navarro-Rico was in the back seat. Another passenger, 23-year-old Kosmas Sanchez, was injured. Prosecutors said Miles' blood alcohol content was measured at 0.21 and 0.20 percent, more than twice the legal limit, and that he was also under the influence of MDMA and marijuana.
Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure ruled there was insufficient evidence to support two counts related to Sanchez, which involved allegations of substantial bodily harm, because Sanchez did not testify at the preliminary hearing. Deputy District Attorney Sammy Lamb said Sanchez was subpoenaed but did not appear. Lamb argued prosecutors showed Sanchez suffered a deep laceration to his wrist that needed stitches, bled profusely and was staggering when he exited the car.
Defense attorney Andrew Leavitt challenged the chemist's affidavit regarding Miles' blood alcohol level and argued prosecutors did not present enough evidence for the DUI resulting in death charge or to show Miles was incapable of safely driving. He also asserted Miles' driving did not constitute reckless driving and noted Sanchez suffered no broken bones.
Lamb countered that Miles was speeding 20 miles per hour over the limit, failed to maintain a lane and hit a parked tractor-trailer. "This isn't somebody who just bumped a curb or something like that. He hit a parked vehicle. This is somebody who was very clearly incapable of safely driving and a death resulted because of it," Lamb told the judge. Navarro-Rico's mother, Mariana Rico, attended the hearing.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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