BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 A man accused of hitting two pedestrians, fatally injuring one, in a hit-and-run crash in Oildale faces a court-indicated sentence of a year in jail and felony probation, according to the District Attorney\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
Steven Frank Godwin, 40, last week made what\u2019s called an \u201copen plea\u201d \u2014 entering no contest pleas to all charges in the hope the judge gives a lesser sentence than prosecutors seek.<\/p>\n
Godwin pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, presenting a false insurance claim, hit-and-run causing death and destroying or concealing evidence, court records show.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 3.<\/p>\n
Shortly after midnight on June 24, 2023, California Highway Patrol officers were called to a crash scene at North Chester and Lincoln avenues and found two pedestrian who were seriously injured. One died.<\/p>\n
Video was located of a 2019 black Ford F-250 in the area just before the crash, according to a court document. A license plate check showed it was registered to Godwin.<\/p>\n
The truck was found at an autobody shop.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe damage to the front of the vehicle was consistent with a vehicle versus pedestrian crash, and additional damage was located which indicated the vehicle had been intentionally damaged,\u201d according to the document.<\/p>\n
Days later, the document says, Godwin went to the CHP-Bakersfield office and admitted involvement in the crash. He also admitted to giving false information to his insurance company and destroying evidence.<\/p>\n
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