Tucson man given 25-to-life in deadly DUI crash

A man convicted of killing a Tucson woman in a 2021 DUI crash was sentenced Friday to 25 years to life in prison.

Pima County Superior Judge Brenden Griffin sentenced Jesus Ismael Rodriguez, 42, to life in prison with the possibility of release after 25 years for first degree murder in the death of Reina Alexis Cota, 24.

Rodriguez was also sentenced to three years in prison for criminal damage and fleeing from law enforcement. Those sentences will serve concurrent with the life sentence. In addition, Rodriguez was sentenced to 7½ years for aggravated assault. That sentence will run consecutively to the others.

Friday’s sentencing was emotional, with many family members on both sides showing support. Lillian Goodman, Reina Cota’s grandmother, told the court she was a devoted and loving mother, saying their family has been changed forever.

“You could be in a room with everyone you love, but someone is still missing,” Goodman said.

Reina Cota’s sister, Mariah , who was injured in the crash, described her sibling as a pure soul. She said her sister’s young daughter still asks when she will see mom again.

“Jesus won’t understand what he put us through,” Mariah Cota said.

During the victim’s statements, Rodriguez was emotional.

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Mark Mendoza, Rodriguez’s attorney, told the court he has not touched alcohol since the incident and wishes he could go back and reverse it.

Rodriguez apologized and told the court he accepted full responsibility and didn’t mean for any of the events to happen.

Before handing out the sentence, Griffin described the incident as “utterly senseless and preventable.”

Just prior to the deadly wreck, a Pima County Sheriff’s deputy tried to stop Rodriguez, who was driving a 1998 Jeep Cherokee, after he was seen speeding on February 21, 2021.

Rodriguez did not stop and went on to run a red light on East Bilby Road, smashing into Cota’s vehicle.

Reina Cota died at the crash scene. Mariah Cota, was sitting in the passenger seat at the time of the crash and said she held her dying sister’s hand.

According to testimony, Rodriguez’s blood concentration level was 0.187, which is twice the state legal limit.