Google+ LinkedIn YouTube

Lancaster Man Pleads Not Guilty to Hit-and-Run Death of 11-Year-Old Girl

file0001496389703A 25-year-old man pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges related to the death of an 11-year-old girl killed in a hit-and-run crash last month, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Eduardo Medrano Jr. (dob 5/14/92) of Lancaster faces one count each of murder, hit-and-run driving resulting in death, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and vehicular manslaughter.

His girlfriend, Alicia Torres (dob 1/31/94) of Lancaster is charged in the same case with one count of accessory after the fact, knowledge of crime.

The criminal complaint alleges Medrano was convicted of first-degree residential burglaries in 2010 and in 2012.

Torres pleaded not guilty to the charge on July 27. Both defendants are due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 1 in Department A02 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Branch. Case MA071752 was filed on July 25.

Just after midnight on July 18, Medrano allegedly drove through a red light on 20th Street East and collided with a vehicle causing Emily T. to be ejected from the victim’s vehicle, the prosecutor said.

Torres allegedly helped the defendant hide from police until his arrest on July 21, prosecutors added.

Bail for Medrano is set at $2.5 million and $20,000 for Torres. If convicted as charged, Medrano faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison and Torres faces three years in prison.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Lancaster Station.

News Release from Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.