BENTONVILLE -- A Rogers man admitted in court Monday a woman died because he drove while drunk.
Asghar Alejandro Martinez, 31, pleaded guilty Monday in Benton County Circuit Court to negligent homicide and first offense driving while intoxicated.
Circuit Judge Brad Karren sentenced Martinez to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. He also must abide by a suspended sentence agreement for 10 years after his release from prison.
Martinez was on state-supervised probation after pleading guilty in November 2014 to a drug charge. The judge revoked Martinez's probation and sentenced him to six years in prison. The sentences will be served concurrently.
His guilty plea Monday was under an agreement his attorney Sam Hall reached with Bryan Sexton, deputy prosecutor.
Martinez was arrested June 5 in the death of Janet Everts, 57, of Garfield. Everts' daughter, Chelsea, told Karren she misses seeing, texting and calling her mother. Chelsea Everts said her mother was a very friendly person and many people loved and cared for her.
"Her laugh was so contagious, and her smile seriously brightened up the room," Chelsea Everts said. "I miss her more than I could ever imagine."
Cpl. Aaron Faust, a Bentonville Police detective, went to a wreck at 10:19 p.m. June 4 in front of Town Home Suites on Southeast 14th Street, according to a probable cause affidavit. A black pickup with front-end damage was in the outside, west lane of the street, according to the affidavit.
Martinez was standing beside the pickup. He told Faust he was on his phone when a vehicle hit him, according to court documents. Martinez said he was heading west and was driving 40 to 43 mph, according to the affidavit.
Faust reported Martinez had bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech and was swaying, according to the affidavit. Martinez said he drank two beers. He later told Faust he drank five beers, and it had been 30 minutes since he drank, according to court documents.
An investigation showed Martinez crossed from the west lanes into oncoming traffic and hit two vehicles, according to court documents.
Everts, the driver of one of the vehicles, died at Cox Medical Center in Springfield, Mo., from massive trauma, according to the affidavit.
Faust took Martinez to a hospital to obtain a blood sample for testing, according to court documents. Martinez originally agreed to the blood draw but refused when the process began, according to court documents.
NW News on 11/29/2016