BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — One of two men arrested in connection to a fiery crash that killed two sisters who were delivering newspapers in south Bakersfield accepted a plea deal Tuesday, agreeing to testify at his co-defendant’s trial.
Gustavo Montoya pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and faces a year in jail and felony probation. Other charges were dismissed.
His sentencing was set for Dec. 16 — the trial of co-defendant Tevin Brandt is expected to have concluded by then.
Montoya, wearing blue jeans and a black T-shirt with text that read “Give All Glory to God” on the back, told Judge Tiffany Organ-Bowles he understood the terms of the deal, including that he’s required to testify at Brandt’s trial.
After accepting his plea, Organ-Bowles sent Brandt and his public defenders to the courtroom of Judge Gloria Cannon for an estimated 20-day trial. It was not immediately clear when opening statements will be heard.
Brandt is facing charges including two counts of second-degree murder and is looking at a life term in prison if convicted.
Early on March 4, 2023, Brandt, who had been out bar-hopping the night before, noticed his cellphone was missing and used an app to track it.
Montoya, an Uber driver who had given him a ride, joined in the search.
The two drove separately to an area where the app indicated Brandt’s phone was located and saw a vehicle occupied by three sisters — Karime and Jennifer Duarte and Diana Ponce. They were delivering newspapers.
Believing the sisters had Brandt’s phone, the men allegedly confronted and, when the sisters drove off, chased them.
The sisters, in an attempt to get away, sped to the end of McKee Road and barreled onto Highway 99, where their vehicle was hit by a pickup and burst into flames, according to court documents.
Karime Duarte, 21, and Jennifer Duarte, 15, were killed. Ponce, then 23, suffered serious injuries but survived.
Brandt’s phone was later found in another rideshare vehicle parked at the location where he first confronted the sisters.
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