During his arraignment in Elko District Court on June 23, a visibly distraught man pleaded not guilty to causing the fatal injuries to his fiancé when he allegedly drove over her while drunk, as reported by the Elko Daily Free Press in Nevada.
The case against J.F., 39, will now proceed to court, with the trial lasting an approximate five days. He pleaded not guilty to both DUI resulting in death and an alternative charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Nearly breaking down into tears, J.F. appeared at the short hearing to enter his plea. After waving his rights to a speedy trial, District Judge Al Kacin told him that the next court date would be a couple of months away.
According to the prosecution's case, J.F. is believed to have been drunk when he hit and killed his fiancé, K.C., 46. The two were traveling together in J.F.'s truck to scout for elk. J.F. took a back road in an unpopulated area of northeastern Elko County when, according to J.F., K.C. threw herself out of the vehicle – while it was moving.
The first officer on scene, sheriff deputy J.S, questioned J.F. and the information was shared during a preliminary hearing in February. However, the claim J.F. made, that K.C. had gotten out of his moving vehicle, was unaccepted by Deputy District Attorney Tyler Ingram.
Ingram stated that blood found on the front of J.F.'s vehicle shows that K.C. was struck by the front of the truck. In addition, one day after the fatality, an investigation came up with more evidence: tire tracks from the Moor Interchange to the Winecup Ranch may match the tires on J.F.'s truck. The stretch of road is almost 57 miles long. At one point the tire tracks leave the dirt road and travel into a wash. It is there that deputies believe K.C. was struck down and killed.
Ranch workers spoke during the preliminary hearing, recounting how J.F. drove up to them and called for help. They witnessed him stop his truck, attempt to revive the victim and then make several unsuccessful calls to 911. The ranch hands said that the area near the dirt road has poor cell reception.
According to Nevada state law in regards to drunk driving charges that result in death, a prosecutor is not allowed to reduce the charges for a plea deal. The prosecutor can only offer a plea deal if it is known "or it is obvious that the charge is not supported by probable cause or cannot be proved at the time of trial." The state stipulates that a person guilty of driving under the influence resulting in death had to be breaking a law that resulted in that death – anything from reckless driving to speeding, on top of a DUI charge.
Sentencing can result with J.F. spending anywhere from 2 to 20 years in a minimum security prison and be separated from violent offenders – if possible.There is no option allowed for probation or a suspension of the sentence. Additionally, if found guilty of DUI resulting in death J.F. would also be fined between $2,000 and $5,000.