SERVING ASCENSION, ASSUMPTION & ST. JAMES PARISHES

Baker Man Pleads Guilty to Negligent Homicide

          On October 16, 2017, John Sanchez of 12645 Centerra Ct. Baker, LA., age 30, pled guilty as charged to Negligent Homicide. Sanchez was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joni Buquoi, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jessie LeBlanc. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following a 2015 car crash that claimed the life of 69-year-old Floyd Cox of Baton Rouge. 

          On February 22, 2015, officers with the Gonzales Police Department responded to the area of I-10 West near the Hwy 30 overpass in the city limits of Gonzales after receiving reports of a 2-vehicle car crash. 

          Upon arrival, officers observed the vehicles involved, and began investigating the crash. The drivers of the vehicles were identified as John Sanchez and Floyd Cox. Officers obtained witness statements which indicated that the vehicle driven by Sanchez passed multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed just before making a lane change and striking the vehicle driven by Cox. Following the collision, both vehicles exited the roadway and came to rest in a ditch.  

          Upon making contact with Sanchez, officers observed no obvious signs of impairment and learned that Sanchez was running late for work and traveling at speeds of approximately 80-90 MPH when he attempted to make a lane change. Sanchez advised that following a lane change, he became distracted by something inside of his vehicle. Sanchez advised that when he looked up, he was unable to avoid the collision. 

          Sanchez was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for moderate injuries. Sanchez was subsequently charged and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail. Cox succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Ascension Parish Coroner’s Office. Impairment was not a factor in the crash. 

          Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charge, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge LeBlanc ordered that Sanchez be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 5 years with credit for time served, which is the maximum possible prison sentence for Negligent Homicide.