St. Louis Park Man Pleads Guilty In Impaired Crash That Killed Store Owner
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 20-year-old St. Louis Park man has pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the April 15 death of a hardware store owner, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.
On Monday, Jorge Juarez pleaded guilty as jury selection was beginning for his trial. Now, the county attorney's office is asking for a 57-month prison sentence.
According to the criminal complaint, a woman was driving west on Minnetonka Boulevard in St. Louis Park at around 9:40 p.m. on the day of the incident when an SUV heading east drifted into her lane. She swerved to avoid hitting it. When she looked in her rear view mirror, she saw the SUV go completely into the westbound lane and collide into a car near Ensign Avenue.
James Hance, the driver of that car, died less than four hours later at the hospital. He was the owner of Hance Ace Hardware in Hopkins.
Juarez admitted in court Monday to smoking marijuana and taking Xanax at a friend's house before driving. He also admitted that at the time of the crash, he was texting and driving 20 mph faster than the 30 mph speed limit.
Juarez's sentencing is set for Dec. 19.