Sherri Brown | Daily News
Genri Hildago, at left in sweat pants and shirt, pleaded guilty to killing Max New in an accident in August. New’s widow, Marcelene, at right, hugs prosecutor Melissa Himes after addressing the court.
Genri Hildago, at left in sweat pants and shirt, pleaded guilty to killing Max New in an accident in August. New’s widow, Marcelene, at right, hugs prosecutor Melissa Himes after addressing the court.
New, a music, youth and children’s pastor at Unity Baptist Church, as well as a member of longtime gospel music group “Good News Trio” was killed Aug. 26. He was traveling on Hill Street on his scooter when Hildago, driving a Buick Rendezvous, hit him, causing the scooter to flip and skid about 96 feet. New, 58, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hildago, who had been drinking that evening, left the scene of the accident. He went home and had his wife, Jacqueline Medrano, call and arrange to park the SUV he had been driving behind a neighbor’s house. Both Hildago and Medrano are in this country illegally.
That weekend, LaGrange police investigators determined that a 2002 or 2003 Buick Rendezvous was the vehicle that hit New. Only eight of those SUVs were registered in Troup County. Investigators spotted a Rendezvous parked behind a house on the street where Hildago lived. The broken windshield had been covered, but the cover had fallen off.
Hildago was arrested Aug. 29 and this week pleaded guilty to first-degree vehicular homicide, driving without a valid license, leaving the scene of an accident with injury, making false statements and DUI.
At the plea hearing, Hildago, apologized to the family through an interpreter. New’s family members and friends made statements before the sentencing.
Marcelene New, widow of Max New, spoke first.
“In December 2010, my daughter, Valerie, died suddenly and I thought it was the worst thing that could happen to me and it was, until August of last year when my marvelous husband was violently, tragically, needlessly killed,” she said. “How he was left lying in the street, I do not understand. He was there for me in my grief, but he’s not here for me anymore. I can’t put into words, to make it adequately known, how much I will miss him.”
Both of Max New’s brothers spoke at the hearing.
“I know Max would forgive you,” Ricky New said to Hildago. “That’s the kind of man he was.”
Billy New, also spoke directly to Hildago.
“I am truly sorry that you were able to come into this country and my government was unable to stop you. I’m very sad for you that you have done this. My family has been hurt and your family has been hurt, too. Your wife is broken. Your children are not with you,” he said. “You made bad decisions. You ran over my brother and you didn’t even stop. I want people here to remember what happened when you made the decision to drink and drive and then run over my brother.”
For more than two decades, Tanya Messer sang with Max and Marcelene in the gospel group, “Good News Trio.” She spoke to the court, as well.
“He was the brother I never had. We fussed and fought like real brothers and sisters,” she said. “He was a great encourager. You always walked away from Max feeling like you were the best singer there ever was.”
Judge Allen Keeble accepted the recommended sentence of 15 years, to serve 10 years in a state penitentiary. When Hildago is eligible for parole, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will decide when he will be deported. Because he is in the U.S. illegally and has committed a felony, Hildago will be deported to his home country of Guatemala.
His children have been returned to Guatemala and his wife, who is serving two years in prison for her part in hiding the vehicle and making false statements to police, will also be deported.
Sherri Brown can be reached at sbrown@lagrangenews.com or at 706-884-7311, Ext. 240.
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