Driver Admits to 2nd-Degree Murder
An Escondido man pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder in the death of a man struck by a car last March in Southeast San Diego.
Ruben Guzman Valle, 25, was charged with killing Alfredo Chavez Sandoval. The 33-year-old victim, who went by the nickname Freddie, died of head injuries when he and another man were struck by the car driven by Guzman.
San Diego Superior Court Judge William Mudd set sentencing for Aug. 15. Guzman faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
According to testimony from witnesses at an April 26 preliminary hearing, Guzman hit two people with his car outside a bar during a dispute over a woman. “The car was the deadly weapon,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Phil Walden said.
Guzman had also been charged with assault with a deadly weapon upon Cirenio Samano, 34, whose leg was broken in the incident, as well as possession of cocaine. Those charges were dropped after Guzman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Hilda Castillo testified she came out of the bar with Chavez and saw Guzman get into his car and drive into a wire fence and another car before hitting the two men.
Prior to the incident, Guzman was a cook at a Rancho Bernardo seafood restaurant, according to court records.
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