Prosecutor: Trump’s comments on fatal crash ‘ghoulish’
An Indiana prosecutor is decrying President Donald Trump and others for politicizing the case of an immigrant charged in a drunken-driving crash that killed an Indianapolis Colts player and his Uber driver. The Marion County prosecutor said Wednesday he's disheartened by what he calls "ghoulish and inappropriate public commentary" surrounding the Sunday crash. The Democrat is handling the criminal case against the suspected drunk driver, who authorities say was illegally living in the U.S.
Associated Press
Marion County Prosecutor
Curry filed felony charges earlier in the day against the suspect,
"We are disheartened that ghoulish and inappropriate public commentary has politicized this tragedy," Curry, a Democrat, said in a statement. "Much of such commentary, including tweets by the president, fails to acknowledge that both
Trump drew added attention to the case on Twitter, calling the highway collision "disgraceful," and prodded
Orrego-Savala is charged with two counts each of causing death while driving intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. The two more serious counts each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The 37-year-old said little during his initial court hearing Wednesday, responding through an interpreter as a judge explained the proceedings and charges. The judge set his bond at
Investigators said Orrego-Savala was living illegally in the
His defense attorney,
Torres said his client has been living and doing construction work in the
"He's very distraught to say the least," Torres said. "He's very confused."
Jackson's family planned no response to Trump's tweets about the crash and the suspect's immigration status, according to a family spokesman.
"We'll let the politicians do the politics while the family is just going to grieve and circle the wagons and try to heal from this tragic situation," Atlanta attorney
Prosecutors allege Orrego-Savala was driving the vehicle that crashed into Jackson and Monroe as the two men stood outside Monroe's car early Sunday along
Orrego-Savala was arrested shortly after the crash. A blood test conducted at a hospital determined he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19 percent, more than double Indiana's legal limit for driving, according to court documents.
Orrego-Savala was deported in 2007 and again in 2009. In 2005, he was convicted for driving under the influence in
In the 2005 case, he pleaded no contest to two separate drunken-driving offenses and was given a brief jail sentence, according to San Mateo County District Attorney
Orrego-Savala remained jailed Wednesday in
Prosecutors filed a motion seeking a DNA sample from Orrego-Savala, arguing it could help determine whether he was in the truck that hit Jackson and Monroe. Prosecutors also said the sample would confirm his identity, noting his various aliases.
When Orrego-Savala appeared Tuesday before a judge who advised him of his rights, he told the judge through an interpreter: "I wasn't driving the car. I don't know why I am here," Indianapolis television station WRTV reported.
A police news release did not mention the presence of anyone else in the pickup truck.
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