No jail time for Fresno police officer who was speeding, texting during fatal crash
A Fresno police officer was sentenced to one-year probation and 400 hours of community service for a crash nearly four years ago that killed a 51-year-old pedestrian in downtown Fresno.
The officer, Benito Soto, was on duty in his department-issued car when he struck and killed Jose Pulido at the intersection of Fresno and E streets on Sept. 5, 2020.
Police said Pulido, who was known to friends as “Güero,” was crossing the intersection against a red light when he was hit by Soto. Police also reported Pulido’s blood-alcohol concentration was .11% at the time of the crash.
An investigation found that Soto, a 17-year veteran of the department, was speeding at the time of the crash and was texting moments before the collision.
The department’s Collision Reconstruction Unit determined Soto was traveling between 29-42 mph in a 30-mph zone.
Soto was arrested and charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence and three infractions: unsafe speed for prevailing conditions, failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and texting while driving.
Although Soto’s case was scheduled to go to trial on June 17, it was continued at the request of his lawyer, Roger Wilson.
On Wednesday, Soto agreed to change his plea from not guilty to no contest, and the district attorney’s office dropped the remaining charges.
Soto also agreed to be sentenced immediately.
The judge sentenced Soto to one year probation, 400 hours of community service and a $550 fine.
Half of of his community service, 200 hours, must be completed within three months, according to the court.
The court set a review date for Sept. 27 in Dept. 13.
Community activist Gloria Hernandez who has closely watched Soto’s case, was disappointed at the outcome.
“My heart hurts for the family of Jose Luis Pulido, aka Wuero, and the many other stolen lives and victims of the Fresno Police department,” she said.
Soto remains on the police force, according to Taylor Long, public information officer for the Fresno County District Attorney’s office.
Soto’s case was similar to others who were charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence.
In December, Scott Borsch, an off-duty Clovis police sergeant, was sentenced to one year probation and 20 days of community service for a car crash that killed 51-year-old Ana Ortega of Sanger.
Ortega was out on her morning walk on April 19 when she was struck by Borsch, whose truck drifted over the center line and struck Ortega and her dog.
And in August, Ashley Engen of Hanford was sentenced to one year of probation plus 360 hours of community service for the crash that killed 14-year-old softball player Marissa Cardona.
The maximum sentence for a charge of misdemeanor vehicular homicide without gross negligence is one year in custody.
