By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
A Hamilton man charged in a triple fatal car crash on I-95 in 2013 spurned a plea bargain from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and instead will go on trial early next year, where he faces up to 40 years in prison.
In Superior Court Monday, Luis Delcid-Cardona told a judge that he was not interested in an offer calling for him to get a 10-year-sentence. His attorney, Robin Lord, and the Prosecutor’s Office failed to reach a deal to avoid him standing trial to face three second-degree death by auto charges and second-degree leaving the scene of an accident.
During negotiations with the Prosecutor’s Office, Ms. Lord had proposed that he plead guilty to leaving the scene of the Dec.12, 2013, crash in Lawrence. But assistant Mercer County Prosecutor Skylar Weissman, one of two prosecutors handling the case, said outside of court that was not an appropriate counter offer given three lives were lost.
Mr. Delcid-Cardona is blamed for the deaths of the passengers in his Volkswagen GTS, Samantha Belliveau, 18, Nicole Rodrigues, 20, and Mr. Delcid-Cardona’s cousin, Jonathan Rivas, 19. Mr. Delcid-Cardona lost control of the vehicle and hit the back of a parked tractor-trailer on the shoulder. The two women, both Hamilton residents, died at the scene, while Mr. Rivas, of Princeton, died of his injuries at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Delcid-Cardona allegedly fled, only to be arrested in Lawrence.
Authorities have said alcohol was a factor, as they alleged Mr. Delcid-Cardona was under the influence at the time. Due to turn 22 this Saturday, July 2, he was 19 when the crash occurred and under the legal age to consume alcohol.
In forgoing the plea bargain and a proposed 10-year-sentence, Mr. Delcid-Cardona instead is staring at a much harsher punishment if he is convicted.
Judge Robert C. Billmeier, sitting in Trenton, told him that he could get up to 40 years in state prison, and that he faces being deported as well. Mr. Delcid-Cardona is an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, with the federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement having a detainer, or an administrative hold, on him.
The judge did not set a trial date, in a case that lawyers indicated would take about two weeks to present before a jury. Lawyers are due back Sept.21 for a voir dire conference, in which they will go over what questions will be asked of prospective jurors during jury selection.
Mr. Delcid-Cardona is in the Mercer County Correction Center, where has been held for the past 2½ years, Ms. Lord said. She said the family of Mr. Rivas has indicated it does not want to see him go to prison.
