Aunt pleads guilty to reduced charges in Roosevelt toddler death
Nicole Annette Rodrigues, 33, entered guilty pleas Thursday to negligent homicide and allowing an unlicensed driver to drive, both misdemeanors. Rodrigues had originally been charged with second-degree felony manslaughter in the death of 22-month-old Franchesca Isabel Montes.
In addition to reducing the manslaughter charge to negligent homicide, Duchesne County prosecutors also agreed to dismiss a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death.
Rodrigues told the court that she was guilty of the charges, but believed Montes' death was an accident and not an intentional act.
According to Roosevelt police, Rodrigues allowed her 14-year-old niece behind the wheel of an SUV on May 15. The girl, with Rodrigues in the passenger seat, ran over Montes as she pulled forward out of the driveway of the toddler's Roosevelt home.
Police and prosecutors say Rodrigues left her niece at the scene with the dying toddler and fled in the SUV.
The teen — who also faced manslaughter and underage driving charges in juvenile court — was sentenced on Tuesday to spend 30 days in an Iowa youth detention facility, serve probation, and perform community service. Prosecutors also reduced the manslaughter charge in that case to a misdemeanor negligent homicide count.
Rodrigues had custody of her niece at the time Montes' death because the teen's mother is in prison. Rodrigues will be sentenced on Aug. 21.
Contributing: Ben Winslow
E-mail: geoff@ubstandard.com
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