Guatemalan citizen Manuel Orrego-Savala, who was convicted today after pleading guilty to 2 counts of “DUI that causes the death of another”, was sentenced to a maximum 16 years in prison. Orrego-Savala, who had been deported in 2007 and 2009, and who entered the United States without legal authority in 2004, killed Edwin Jackson in February of this year when he collided with Mr. Jackson and Jeffrey Monroe, his 54-year-old Uber driver, who were both standing on the roadside of the interstate in Indiana.
Orrego-Savala was originally charged with four counts, but agreed to plead guilty to two counts if the other two counts were dropped.
Edwin Jackson was a well liked figure with the Colts, and he started in 8 games during the 2016 season, but could not play in the 2017 season due to injury. The Colts released a statement upon his death,
“Edwin was loved by all in the Colts organization,” the team said. “We admired his outgoing personality, competitive spirit and hardworking mentality. He was well-respected among all with whom he crossed paths, and he will be greatly missed in our locker room and throughout our entire organization.”
Because of the nature of the case, including the fact that Orrego-Savala was in the United States illegally, President Trump and Vice President Pence both commented on the case in early February, and tried to used it to further their anti-immigrant rhetoric.