Lagrant D. Pegram, 35, has pleaded guilty in a DUI that caused the death of Emmanuel Franco, 21, at the Regional Justice Center in Kent, where he has been remanded in jail in lieu of a $500,000 bail, as reported by the News Tribune.
Pegram’s blood alcohol was three times the legal limit as he sped through a red light in Federal Way and ran his Chevrolet Suburban into Franco’s Acura Integra.
Franco’s family was not present when Pegram entered his guilty plea.
Emmanuel Franco was a graduate of Decatur High School in 2007 and had been employed as a baggage handler in the Sea-Tac Airport.
The vehicular homicide charge carries a sentence between 11 years three months to 13 years eight months in prison. There are also two enhancements included for driving under the influence.
Pegram’s attorney, Lee Rousso, will be recommending the 11 year three month minimum sentence while the King County prosecutor’s office has said that they will be asking for 12 years three months.
Pegram’s record shows prior convictions for alcohol-related felony vehicular assault in 1992, driving under the influence in 2006 and, in all, revealed that the defendant has been arrested over 30 times.
Pegram’s sentencing is set to occur on April 1 at the Regional Justice Center.
The accident, occurring at 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of South 320th Street and Pacific Highway South in Federal Way, was captured on a city surveillance camera.
Pegram was unhurt in the incident.
Pegram’s breath test, at three times the 0.08 state limit, proved to be a 0.242 blood-alcohol content.
King County prosecutors state that Pegram was also driving with a suspended license.
Prosecutors contend that Pegram drove around two other cars, stopped briefly at a red light before choosing to run through it, and then T-boned the driver’s side of Franco’s Acura. Video recordings have confirmed the prosecutor’s allegations.
Of his client’s remorse over causing the death, Rousso said, “It was a relatively easy decision, the evidence in this case, I think, was overwhelming. He’s really distraught over this…he’s extremely remorseful.”
Rousso also claimed that his client had turned to the bible and had begun praying for forgiveness.
On January 13 Pegram had originally entered a plea of not guilty. Court records show that he denied being at fault in the crash.
He claimed to police that the Acura was traveling south and made an abrupt left turn in front of his Suburban and that was what caused the crash.
But police determined that the story Pegram gave at the crash wasn’t consistent with the damage on the Acura. And, with the camera showing Franco moving west through a green light, the claim appeared faulty.
Prior to his DUI arrest, Pegram was already on parole as a felon.
He has been convicted on drug charges on several occasions.
If you have been arrested and charged with DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI, contact a DUI attorney to discuss your defense today! Your plea, whether guilty or not guilty, requires careful consideration.