The man declares himself guilty of leaving the death scene of the deputy of Pinellas

The man accused of fleeing after driving by a deputy of the Pinellas County Sheriff two years ago in a construction site declared himself guilty on Friday, leaving his punishment for a judge to decide.

Juan Molina-Sales appeared in the Court on Friday morning, 10 days before his trial began, and admitted a single criminal position of leaving the scene of an accident that involved a death.

The plea came with the understanding that a judge will not impose a sentence of more than 20 years in prison, a condition that prosecutors opposed.

A Honduran immigrant who was illegally in the United States, Molina-Sales is guaranteed that he will be deported after he leaves prison.

The development suggests that a conclusion could be close in the case that became a point of inflammation in the midst of the national political controversy on immigration and border security.

He arrived days after Governor Ron Desantis Defend the state -funded construction company That used Molina-Salts and her co-workers, who were also in the country illegally. Desantis said the company, Archer Western-De Moya Group Joint Venture, which supervises his administration, was the victim of an interstate fraud that creates a false identification to approve citizenship verification projections.

Two of Molina-Sales’ co-workers, in testimony prior to the trial, described a rudimentary hiring process That did not deeply investigate its immigration status.

Molina-Salles, 34, was operating a front charger afternoon one night in September 2022 when deputy Michael Hartwick ran over. He went on foot, stimulating a human hunt during the night.

Prosecutors and a defense lawyer could not agree on a proposed prison mandate.

A public defender who represents Molina-Sales offered to accept a sentence of 10 years, according to the lower end of what state guidelines suggested. Prosecutors rejected that, saying that they would only consider proposals for more than 20 years.

Molina-Sales then decided to let the Pinellas-Pasco circuit judge, Pat Syracuse, decided his destination. His plea came with the understanding that the judge’s judgment would not exceed 20 years, a condition to which prosecutors opposed. The defense lawyers will have the opportunity to try to convince the judge to impose a penalty much less than that of a sentence hearing, which is scheduled for early March.

Hartwick was working out of service the night he died, helping to direct traffic on the construction site in Interestal 275 near Roosevelt Boulevard. He was standing outside his patrol near the road shoulder when Molina-Sales led to approximately 20 mph and ran over the front charger. He did not realize that he hit the deputy, according to judicial records.

Two of Molina-Sales’ co-workers said in testimony prior to the trial that led about 50 feet behind him in a truck when they noticed the body of the deputy who was on the ground. Allan Gómez Zelaya and Douglas Valladaras said the area was dark and that the flashing lights on the deputy’s car made it more difficult to see.

Gómez Zelaya testified that he went out to look at the deputy, then told his supervisor to call 911. He called Molina-Sales, who had led very forward, and told him that he had hit the deputy.

It sounds scared, said Gómez Zelaya, and began to cry.

Another of their coworkers took their construction and helmet vest before fleeing. The agents found him the next morning, muddy and humid, hidden in a nearby brush.

Molina-Salt and at least 13 of her co-workers were later accused in a federal court to use social security numbers that did not belong to work in the US. UU. Their federal case is still pending.

This is a development story. Stay with Tampabay.com For updates.