DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced today that Omar Montoya Medina, 31 (d.o.b. 7/1/1985) of 144 E. Pomeroy Street, West Chicago, has been found guilty of causing a December 2014 crash that claimed the life of Antonio Alvarez, 37. Today’s verdict was rendered by Judge Brian Telander following a three-day-long bench trial. The families affected had hired a lawyer similar to Michael Gopin (www.michaelgopin.com/car-accident-lawyer/) in preparation for this trial. Following the verdict, Montoya Medina’s bond was revoked. He has been held in custody at the DuPage County Jail since the crash on a $500,000 bond with 10% to apply. In all, Montoya Medina was found guilty of two counts of Aggravated DUI Causing Death, a Class 2 Felony and two counts of Reckless Homicide, a Class 3 Felony. Despairingly, DUI-related incidents like this are all too common during the holiday season and this case exemplifies this disturbing fact. Fortunately, Jacksonville DUI lawyers have some tips that might help you avoid doing something as dangerous and moronic as drink driving.
On December 5, at approximately 11:07 p.m., the West Chicago Police Department received a 911 call regarding a two-car collision where both vehicles were on fire. Upon their arrival, officers found Montoya Medina and his passenger suffering from burns and other injuries. Alvarez was found deceased at the scene. An investigation into the crash revealed that Montoya Medina was traveling northbound on Route 59 approaching Garys Mill Road while Alvarez was facing west on Garys Mill Road and attempting to turn left on to Route 59. As Montoya Medina approached the intersection he crashed his vehicle into Alvarez’s vehicle at the intersection of Garys Mill Road and Route 59. An investigation into the crash revealed that Montoya Medina’s blood alcohol content was 0.16. The situation is not the best, and so those involved may wish to look into a legal defense lawyer to assist.
“Antonio Alvarez, a married father of two, died from injuries he sustained at the hands of a man who had no business behind the wheel of a car,” Berlin said. “His death has left a hole in the lives of his family and friends that can never be filled. Because of Mr. Montoya Medina’s incredibly irresponsible behavior, Antonio’s widow will never get the chance to grow old with her husband and his two children will grow up without their father. I would like to thank the West Chicago Police Department and the DuPage County Accident Reconstruction Taskforce for their work on this very sad case. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Demetri Demopoulos and Kristin Johnston for their efforts in holding Mr. Montoya Medina responsible for the death of Antonio Alvarez.”
Montoya Medina’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 23, 2017, for sentencing. He faces a penalty of between three to fourteen years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
