San Diego
A City Heights man convicted of involuntary manslaughter was sentenced to three years in state prison Thursday in the April 22 death of a 12-year-old girl who jumped from his truck on Interstate 5 to her death.
Two relatives of the girl made outbursts in court and left the courtroom during the sentencing of Jesus Hector Garcia Artega, 28.
Garcia also was fined $1,200 by San Diego Superior Court Judge William Mudd.
Garcia pleaded guilty in July to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Sylvia Rodriguez.
As Garcia’s attorney, Alex Loebig asked about a dozen relatives of Garcia to stand in court to show their support, relatives of the slain girl said that they should also be acknowledged.
Mudd told the packed courtroom that anyone who spoke out during the sentencing would be ordered to leave. The judge then asked that the victim’s relatives also stand.
Garcia told the judge he “never tried to hurt anyone.”
Loebig conceded that Garcia “acted irresponsibly” by not stopping or returning to the scene after the girl jumped out of the car.
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