Justice was served in an Orange County courtroom for two victims of a deadly drunk driving crash in Orlando on Christmas Day nearly three decades ago.An anonymous tip led to the arrest of 52-year-old Patrick Lutts in Toronto after he skipped a plea hearing 23 years ago.As part of his plea deal, the judge sentenced Lutts to 13 years in prison, with credit for time served since his capture in Canada last year. His driver’s license has also been permanently suspended. Prosecutors said Lutts had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit during the deadly crash on John Young Parkway, which occurred in the early morning of Christmas Day 1998. The crash killed 19-year-old Nancy Lopez and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Javier DeJesus Taboada. After skipping a plea hearing while out on bond in October 2003, Canadian court documents revealed Lutts had been in hiding, living a double life under an alias in Toronto.This past February, the fugitive was extradited back to Orange County. Friday morning, Lopez’s mother and several relatives were in the courtroom. They shared how Christmas is no longer a celebration for their family because of Lutts’ decision to drive drunk. “Because of those choices, two beautiful young lives need and smile shattered forever, pain still hurts and will for rest of my life, not a day that goes by that I do not miss her,” Lopez’s mother said.Lutts faced two counts of DUI manslaughter. He stood up during the hearing to address the court and apologize to Lopez’s family.The prosecutor mentioned that the next of kin for her boyfriend was no longer alive.During the hearing, Lopez’s sister thanked law enforcement at home and abroad for their tireless efforts to bring closure to their family after all these years of Lutts avoiding justice.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
Justice was served in an Orange County courtroom for two victims of a deadly drunk driving crash in Orlando on Christmas Day nearly three decades ago.
An anonymous tip led to the arrest of 52-year-old Patrick Lutts in Toronto after he skipped a plea hearing 23 years ago.
As part of his plea deal, the judge sentenced Lutts to 13 years in prison, with credit for time served since his capture in Canada last year.
His driver’s license has also been permanently suspended.
Prosecutors said Lutts had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit during the deadly crash on John Young Parkway, which occurred in the early morning of Christmas Day 1998.
The crash killed 19-year-old Nancy Lopez and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Javier DeJesus Taboada.
After skipping a plea hearing while out on bond in October 2003, Canadian court documents revealed Lutts had been in hiding, living a double life under an alias in Toronto.
This past February, the fugitive was extradited back to Orange County.
Friday morning, Lopez’s mother and several relatives were in the courtroom. They shared how Christmas is no longer a celebration for their family because of Lutts’ decision to drive drunk.
“Because of those choices, two beautiful young lives need and smile shattered forever, pain still hurts and will for rest of my life, not a day that goes by that I do not miss her,” Lopez’s mother said.
Lutts faced two counts of DUI manslaughter. He stood up during the hearing to address the court and apologize to Lopez’s family.
The prosecutor mentioned that the next of kin for her boyfriend was no longer alive.
During the hearing, Lopez’s sister thanked law enforcement at home and abroad for their tireless efforts to bring closure to their family after all these years of Lutts avoiding justice.