Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated that Sergio Alamanza faced up to 27 years in prison. He faces up to 30.5 years.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The jury has reached a verdict in the trial of Sergio Almanza. The jury has found Almanza guilty on all counts related to the deadly River of Lights crash in 2021. Almanza faces up to 30.5 years behind bars, according to the New Mexico Attorney General’s office.
“In the matter of State of New Mexico versus Sergio Alfredo Almanza, verdict, we find the defendant guilty of causing death by driving under the influence as charged by count one,” said Judge Loveless, Presiding Criminal Court Judge.
Almanza was driving an ATV along Central and Tingley in December of 2021 when he hit and killed 7-year-old Pronoy Bhattacharya and injured the boy’s father as the two were leaving the River of Lights.
He was found guilty of, vehicular homicide while under the influence, great bodily harm by vehicle while under the influence, leaving the scene of a crash with great bodily harm, tampering with evidence and driving off-highway motor vehicle on a paved street or highway.
“It’s hard to believe but after that first count was pronounced as guilty, I think…I don’t know if I heard the rest of it, but I am very happy, I am very relieved,” said Deepshikha Chowdhury, Pronoy Bhattacharya’s mother. “I am happy justice has been served.”
The guilty verdict couldn’t have come sooner for the parents of Pronoy, who’ve waited nearly two years for a decision on the case.
Pronoy’s parents say they had doubts during the trial, arguing that the jury never heard some evidence that they thought would have made the decision easier for jurors. The family is now hoping that Almanza receives the maximum sentence.
“Most of the witnesses that we had were very evasive and they weren’t probably providing accurate and full testimony, so we really had our doubts, we were worried,” Chowdhury said.
A sentencing hearing has been set for late November.
“It was amazing that the jury was able to see through all that and reached a unanimous verdict,” said, Aditya Bhattacharya, Pronoy’s father. “We see that as a miracle.”
Related coverage:
- APD releases photos of vehicle involved in crash that killed boy, injured father
- Hit-and-run driver, vehicle still missing after deadly crash; boy identified
- Arrest warrant issued for man accused of driving vehicle that fatally struck 7-year-old
- Man accused of killing child in crash near River of Lights arrested
- Court documents reveal new details in Sergio Almanza case
- More details surface in River of Lights hit and run case
- Trial set for River of Lights drunk driving suspect
- Trial begins for man accused of killing child leaving the River of Lights
Closing arguments were heard Wednesday before jury deliberation began. Prosecutors said that Almanza was drunk when the crash happened. Almanza’s defense said there is no physical evidence that Almanza was drunk at the time of the crash.
The trial lasted for seven days. Prosecutors called more than a dozen witnesses, while the defense wrapped their case without calling a witness.
