ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A man who didn’t turn himself in after being sentenced for a deadly car accident, caused by his speeding, is getting an extra two years for running away. Francisco Reyes-Merlos pled no contest to homicide by vehicle for slamming into Travis Dehart’s car at 90 miles-an-hour back in 2019, killing Dehart and injuring his daughter.
Reyes-Merlos was sentenced to four years in prison back in 2022 but did not turn himself in. The state and Reyes-Merlos’ lawyer agreed to an additional two years in prison for running away for three years.
Judge Britt Baca didn’t like that agreement. “I think that this is probably a bit more generous then I may have been. Honestly, just because he had been on the run for quite some time and had not reported as permitted. I had given you the opportunity to turn yourself in,” said Judge Baca.
She sentenced Reyes-Merlos to six years behind bars. He was facing nine years.