Left: Miguel A. Espinoza (Galveston County Jail). Right: Espinoza’s car after the crash that left four family members dead (KTRK).
A 47-year-old man in Texas will likely spend decades behind bars for killing four family members who were driving in a golf cart when he drunkenly rammed them with his SUV in 2022. Miguel A. Espinoza on Tuesday formally pleaded guilty to four counts of intoxication manslaughter and one count of intoxication assault, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Espinoza had initially pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him and was scheduled to begin his trial Tuesday morning in Texas’ 10th District Court. However, with the jury already selected and attorneys prepared to make their opening statements, the Rosenberg, Texas, native abruptly decided to reverse course and plead guilty to all counts, The Galveston Daily News reported.
According to the report, Espinoza at about 11:35 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2022, was drunk and driving his black Hyundai SUV well over the speed limit when he ran a stop sign at the intersection of 33rd Street and Avenue R, which is about 50 miles southeast of Houston. Espinoza’s SUV reportedly struck a Dodge pickup truck which then collided with a golf cart containing six passengers: two grandparents, three of their grandchildren, and their niece.
Felipe Bentancur, 49, Destiny Uvalle, 25, Brailyn Cantu, 14, and Kaisyn Bentancur, 4, were all killed as a result of the crash while the remaining two passengers were both reportedly left with serious injuries.
The jury still heard opening arguments, though they were for the punishment phase of the trial.
Chief Assistant Criminal District Attorney Ricque Davis reportedly told jurors that Espinoza was a man without remorse for his actions. She also spoke about the victims, noting that Felipe Bentancur had been with his wife for 34 years and the family traditionally took a trip to Galveston every summer.
She also emphasized that Espinoza initially tried to leave the scene of the accident and then lied to police about being involved in the crash.
“I promise you we are going to give you enough to give him a maximum sentence on every single charge because that’s what he deserves,” Davis reportedly said.
Espinoza’s defense attorney, Mo Ibrahim, said his client wanted to plead guilty from the start, but took his advice to mount a vigorous defense.
“I can submit to you there isn’t a person in this courtroom that wasn’t shocked,” Ibrahim reportedly said, referring to when Espinoza pleaded guilty.
According to court documents obtained by Houston ABC affiliate KTRK, investigators with the Galveston Police Department determined that Espinoza failed to yield the right of way at the intersection.
When first responders arrived at the scene, several witnesses said they had seen the driver of the SUV and a female companion walk away from the area following the crash, KTRK reported. After locating Espinoza, the officers noted that his breath smelled of alcohol and his eyes appeared bloodshot.
A field sobriety test known as a “lack of convergence test” was conducted on Espinoza. Immediately after the test was administered, Espinoza said, “I want to call my lawyer,” per the report.
Espinoza was booked into the Galveston County Jail and released on Nov. 8, 2022, after posting bond of $400,000. However, he was arrested again in Feb. 2023, after he was caught without a valid license operating a vehicle that did not have an Interlock device, which was prohibited by the conditions of his release. An Interlock device requires the driver to take a breath test before the car will start.
A judge subsequently revoked Espinoza’s bond and ordered him to remain in detention until trial.
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