News

Driver rejects plea deal in Minnesota teen's death

Photo: Comstock, Photos.com

Oct 4, 2012 at 7:32 am

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A St. Paul man has rejected a plea deal in the death of a 16-year-old girl who was struck and killed outside Harding High School.

Carlos Viveros-Colorado also waived his right to a jury trial Wednesday. He will be tried before a judge Nov. 5.

Viveros-Colorado is accused of hitting and killing Clarisse Grime of St. Paul on July 5 with an SUV.

Viveros-Colorado also is charged with criminal vehicular operation, a gross misdemeanor, for injuring Grime's boyfriend, who suffered a bruised hip.

The Star Tribune (http://bit.ly/UcIA32) reports the plea deal would have given Viveros-Colorado a lower sentence for the most serious charge, criminal vehicular homicide.

Viveros-Colorado's attorney told the judge he believes prosecutors were pressuring his client to take a guilty plea, even though he had a legitimate defense.