American charged with manslaughter in Mexico

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A Mexican judge has ordered a Socorro, Texas, man held in jail pending trial in connection with the deaths of three teenage girls on June 24 in Juarez.

Henry Raygoza, 45, allegedly was speeding in a black Jeep with Texas license plates that struck and sent a blue Honda across the median on the Norzagaray Boulevard in north Juarez. The Honda carrying two women and three girls was hit head-on by a tractor-trailer. The three girls died from injuries sustained in the collision and the two women suffered serious injuries, according to police.

On Monday, a Chihuahua state judge ordered Raygoza held at Juarez’s Cereso No. 3 prison for trial on charges of manslaughter, injuries and damage to property. The judge gave prosecutors and defense attorneys six months to present evidence.

The Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office issued a statement on Tuesday, saying it would appeal the judge’s ruling based on “aggravated circumstances that were not considered.” Prosecutors allege Raygoza was under the influence of drugs (cocaine and marijuana) at the time of the accident and were seeking aggravated homicide charges.

Prosecutors also alleged Raygoza was speeding because he was fleeing the scene of an earlier crash in which he struck a Chevrolet Astro van.

According to Article 138 of the Chihuahua Penal Code , individuals found guilty of “homicide through carelessness” (manslaughter) while driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs and alcohol and there are two or more victims could be sentenced to between three years and six months in prison to eight years in prison. An aggravated homicide conviction carries up to 50 years in prison.

A first-hand account from a witness at Raygoza’s Monday hearing said Raygoza showed up in court still with bruises on his face from the crash, was silent and with a vacant stare. “He looks like he is in another world, away from his accusers, (away) from the place where he had to walk into with handcuffs.”

According to Mexican news reports, the victims were on their way to Downtown Juarez to pick up dresses for a quinceañera party.

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