HILO — The man who pleaded guilty last month to killing a woman and seriously injuring a man when his car collided with a motorcycle in Puna last year will serve 10 years in prison after his sentencing on Friday morning.
Judge Greg K. Nakamura ordered Fidel Jeronimo Bautista Jr., 53, to serve 10 years for a count of first-degree negligent homicide, two to five years for a count of first-degree negligent injury and five days for a count of DUI. He received credit for time served and will serve the sentences concurrently.
Bautista may also be required to pay restitution to the family of the victim, Linda McKee, 61, of Vancouver, Wash. Deputy Prosecutor Mary Ann Hollocker requested 30 days to confer with the family on the amount that will be recommended. He was also told to pay a total of $865 in various court fees.
Bautista pleaded no contest to the three charges in early February. In a deal with prosecutors, charges of driving without a license and insurance were dropped.
Hollocker has declined to disclose the terms of the plea agreement or Bautista’s blood-alcohol content at the time of the collision. Prior to the sentencing, Hollocker recommended the maximum sentence of 10 years to Judge Greg K. Nakamura, noting that “this was not the first time the defendant operated a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.”
The DUI conviction is Bautista’s second in Hawaii. On July 21, 2009, he was found guilty of DUI and driving without insurance in Hilo District Court. He was fined $1,500 and his driver’s license was suspended for a year.
Prior to the sentencing being handed down, Bautista’s defense attorney, Melody Parker, said that her client was well aware of the seriousness of his actions.
“There is no doubt this was a tragic accident,” she said. “Mr. Bautista is truly sorry and remorseful. … He was acting that night differently than if he hadn’t been drinking and partying up.”
As she spoke, Bautista stood silently, staring at the ground in front of him. When asked if he had any words of his own before accepting his sentence, the defendant spoke in a whisper to his Spanish interpreter.
“I want to request forgiveness for what happened,” she said for him after he finished speaking. “I’m very remorseful and very sorry for what happened.”
On May 18, Bautista was driving west on Highway 130 shortly before 10 p.m. when he made a left turn onto Ainaloa Boulevard, failing to yield the right of way. The 1994 Toyota four-door sedan he was driving struck a 1997 Honda motorcycle traveling east.
The collision killed McKee, who was a passenger on the motorcycle, and seriously injured 55-year-old rider Michael Hammond. Neither was wearing a helmet.
Bautista and his two female passengers, ages 45 and 23, were treated for minor injuries and released. He had been in custody since his arrest shortly after the collision, unable to post $55,250 bail.
Staff writer John Burnett contributed to this report.
