Couple Accused Of USC Students Hit and Run Reject Plea Deal
August 1, 2009 (by Horatio Algren) According to reports the husband and wife accused of hit and run in the death of one USC student and the severe injuries to another rejected a plea deal offered by the district attorney.
Josue Luna and his wife Claudia Cabrera charged with hit and run in the death of USC student Adrianna Bachan near campus in a crosswalk at approximately 3:00 a.m. on March 29th, who died from the injuries she sustained in the hit and run. Marcus Garfinkle was critically injured in the hit and run accident.
The plea deal that was offered was a 6 year sentence for Luna and a 4 year sentence for Cabreara who was driving the vehicle at the time of the hit and run when she ran a red light and drove through the crosswalk striking the two USC students. Cabrera was arrested on April 2, after Bachans mother made a series of televised pleas for the capture of the alleged suspects and offered a $235,000 reward.
Luna was arrested in the alleged hit and run on April 18 when he was walking across the border back into the United States from Mexico.
Attorney Jeffery Benice who is representing the couple stated that the plea deal is unacceptable and if they went to trial Luna and Cabrera would serve less time. The attorney also stated that Luna is willing to serve extra time in order for his wife to serve less time. Benice said the couple are seeking a 2 year sentence for Cabrera and a 4 year sentence for Luna. Hit and run accident attorneys will be watching this case closely.