A Tucson man has been convicted of murder in a 2021 DUI crash on the cityโs south side, court records show.
Jurors found Jesus Ismael Rodriguez guilty of first degree murder, aggravated assault, criminal damage, fleeing from law enforcement vehicle and extreme DUI, court records say.
Rodriguezโs three-day trial in Pima County Superior Court ended Aug. 9.
Reina Alexis Cota died holding her sisterโs hand from the driverโs seat after Rodriguez ran a red light on East Bilby Road and crashed into their vehicle, Deputy Pima County Attorney Erica Gee Lynch told jurors in opening statements.
A Pima County Sheriffโs deputy had tried to stop Rodriguez after he was seen speeding on Feb. 21, 2021. In a surveillance video shown in court, a vehicle is seen driving through a nearby apartment complex with another vehicle following it. The driver leaves before the deputy can make contact and soon after smashes into Cotaโs car.
Cota died at the scene. Cotaโs sister, Mariah, who was in the passenger seat, was taken to the hospital.
At the time of the crash, Rodriguezโs blood alcohol concentration level was 0.187, which is twice the legal limit, Lynch said.
Rodriguezโs attorneys argued that he didnโt flee from law enforcement. The deputy was in surveillance mode and had his emergency lights turned off.
They told jurors Rodriguez had unintentionally caused Cotaโs death.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 22.
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