Judge sentences former El Paso boxer to 33 years in prison for drunk driving crash that killed 3
A former El Paso boxer was sentenced by a judge Wednesday to 33 years in prison for a drunk driving crash that killed three people on Christmas Eve 2014.
Joel Garcia had faced the prospect of 49 1/2 years behind bars after a jury recommended 16 1/2 year sentences on each of three counts of intoxication manslaughter.
After hearing emotional victim impact statements on Wednesday morning from family members of the three killed, Judge Alyssa Perez opted to have Garcia serve two of the sentences concurrently (at the same time) and the remaining one consecutively for a total of 33 years.
Defense lawyer Brent Mayr said Garcia could be eligible for parol in 16 years, but he anticipated Garcia “will probably have to serve 75 to 80 percent of that sentence before he has a real shot at parole.”
Garcia’s conviction stems from a wreck in east El Paso five years ago that killed two brothers and a woman whose car was struck by his vehicle that ran a red light. Authorities said Garcia was also drunk and his car was speeding at the time of the fiery crash.
The victims were Joshua and Isaiah Deal, plus Shannon Del Rio.
KVIA 2019
