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By
Sophie Gad [former]
- April 26, 2022
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A 28-year-old vehicular manslaughter defendant pleaded guilty on April 25 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn.
Joshua Mendoza, is charged with vehicular manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter due to criminal negligence, homicide by vehicle while under the influence, two counts of homicide by vehicle due to intoxication, and five traffic violations in connection to an incident on Sept. 3, 2019.
The defendant accepted a plea of 10 years in prison for vehicular manslaughter and two years in prison for leaving the scene of an accident that caused a death and disregarding a signal by a police officer to stop. These charges are to run consecutively.
Mendoza was represented by defense attorney Marshall Henslee.
According to court documents, on Sept. 3, 2019, Mendoza was driving intoxicated with a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.149 when he collided with Tajra Gray who was operating her vehicle. Mendoza fled the scene. An officer heard the collision and saw him leaving. He signaled for him to stop, but Mendoza failed to. The victim was severed at the waist and died at the scene.
The victim’s mother was also present at the hearing. She explained how her daughter’s death has affected her and how much she misses her.
Mendoza has been incarcerated since Sept. 3, 2019, and he is entitled to 949 days of prison credit.