A 41-year-old Riverside man pleaded not guilty Friday to second-degree murder and leading police on two separate chases in Westminster with the second one leading to a friend’s death in the passenger seat.
Javier Homero Montoya, ordered held on $1 million bail, was charged with a count each of murder, assault with a deadly weapon, evading peace officers while driving recklessly, evading police officers while driving recklessly and causing serious bodily injury or death and two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, all felonies.
Montoya also faces a sentencing enhancement for residential burglary conviction in Riverside County in 2000.
Montoya was driving his Ford F-150 pickup truck out of a parking lot of a 24 Hour Fitness lot in Westminster about 7:15 p.m. Dec. 1 when he refused to obey a routine traffic stop, Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker alleged. Montoya led police on a high-speed chase on the San Diego (405) freeway where he slammed on his brakes, causing a Westminster officer’s squad car to ram the back of the truck, Walker said.
Montoya’s truck slammed into the side of the officer’s car before the defendant drove off, Walker alleged.
Westminster police encountered Montoya again about 11:30 p.m. the same day when the defendant again refused to stop and led police on another high- speed chase on the 405 with the truck’s headlights off, Walker alleged. This time, his friend, 43-year-old Alberto Marquez, was in the passenger seat, Walker said.
Montoya lost control of the truck near the Long Beach (710) Freeway and crashed into trees and light poles on the side of the road, Walker said.
Montoya and Marquez were pulled out of the fiery wreckage, but Marquez was pronounced dead and the defendant was taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries, Walker said.
Montoya could fae up to 59 years to life in prison if he is convicted at trial.
— City News Service