Manslaughter Suspect Apprehended

Image
  • Manslaughter Suspect Apprehended
    Manslaughter Suspect Apprehended
Body

A Clinton man charged with causing the death of a woman in a fatal traffic collision in Burns Flat last month has been arrested in Custer County.

Washita County Sheriff Roger Reeve said Monday that Jesus Manuel Villegas, Jr., 21, was arrested in Custer County last Saturday, Oct. 10.

Villegas has been charged in Washita County District Court with first degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatality accident. The charges were filed on Sept. 30, according to court records.

Reeve had reported earlier that a bench warrant had been issued for Villegas on the two felony charges. Until Saturday’s arrest, he had remained at large. Reeve said, “We will probably go pick him up today (Monday), if they have no charges.” A little later he learned Custer County also has charges on him and stated, “so I don’t know when we’ll pick him up.” Later, Reeve added, “Total bonds on Villegas are $220,000. Washita County’s bond is $100,000.”

A staff member with the Custer County jail on Monday said Villegas was picked up on outsanding warrants against him. “A 2017 warrant against him is for distribution of controlled drug and carrying a firearm while committing a felony. That bond is $20,000,” she said.

“A 2019 warrant is for three charges, trafficking a controlled substance, carrying a firearm after conviction of a felony and possession of a controlled dangerous drug. Those bonds total $200,000,” she said, adding “We are holding him on the Washita County warrant which is a $100,000 bond.”

State troopers identified the driver as Villegas. They say he was driving the vehicle involved in the fatal traffic collision that caused the death of a 31-year-old woman.

The fatal accident occurred about 5 a.m., Sept. 25, on SH 44 approximately one-half mile south of Webb Street in Burns Flat.

The manslaughter charge accuses Villegas of driving a 2015 Dodge Challenger Coupe while unlawfully engaged in a misdemeanor at the time he was driving the vehicle by not possessing a valid driver’s license and causing a motor vehicle accident that caused the death of Danielle Rene Raya.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Trent Cagle, with the Traffic Homicide Division who assisted with the investigation of the accident, filed a probable cause affidavit also on Sept. 30 that shows Raya was 31 at the time of the collision and that she was discovered deceased inside the wrecked Dodge Challenger.

In his investigation, Cagle also was able to determine that Villegas had borrowed the car from a friend. The trooper states in the affidavit the registered owner of the vehicle was a woman who reported her grandson possessed and drove the car.

The trooper further confirmed the grandson was not present in the Dodge during the fatal collision.

In the probable cause affidavit, it states that troopers recovered a plastic medical marijuana container from the vehicle’s contents which contained what appeared to be marijuana and meth. The items will be sent to the OSBI laboratory for analysis, it says.

The leaving the scene of a fatality accident count charges Villegas with failing to remain at the scene of the accident until he had given his correct name, address, and the registration number of the automobile that he was driving and showed his operators/chauffeurs license and security verification form to law enforcement officers and/ or rendered reasonable assistance to Raya.

The manslaughter charge is punishable by imprisonment for not less than four years.

The leaving the scene of a fatality accident charge is punishable by a fine of $1,000 to $10,000 or imprisonment for 1-10 years or by the fine and the imprisonment.