An undocumented immigrant is facing serious charges after allegedly killing his father and injuring an elderly woman during a police pursuit in Orange County. In court on Thursday, he seemed quite upset, attempting to shield his face from view.
Darwin Felipe Bahamon Martínez, 21, originally from Colombia, was let go under the Biden administration’s policies. He stands accused of killing a 59-year-old man and injuring an 83-year-old woman on January 21.
At his preliminary hearing in Orange County Superior Court, Martínez appeared visibly disturbed as deputies escorted him into a secure area and locked him in. He tried to hide behind the bars of the cage, out of sight from his attorneys, the judge, and those in the courtroom. At one point, he even covered his face with a brown envelope.
Despite his evident tension, he managed to answer when Judge Fernando Valle questioned him about his upcoming court date.
When asked if he understood the charges against him, Martínez simply said, “Yes.”
Prosecutors indicated that a patrol officer had initiated a traffic stop after observing Martínez driving recklessly in a dark Jeep Gladiator and nearly colliding with a parked vehicle.
He reportedly fled the scene, leading to a brief chase that ended with him crashing into at least two other cars, which tragically resulted in the death of his father, Jose Antonio Ramos Hernandez, and injury to the elderly woman.
Martínez is currently held on a $2 million bail after pleading not guilty to charges including gross negligence manslaughter and reckless driving. His next court appearance is set for July 7.
ICE officials noted that Martínez entered the U.S. illegally around August 2023 near Chula Vista. He was apprehended after crossing the border but was reportedly released back into the community during the Biden administration.
ICE stated that if this “catch and release” policy hadn’t been in place, they believe the 59-year-old man who died may still be alive. An immigration detainer was lodged against Martínez shortly after the incident, but California’s sanctuary state law limits local officials’ ability to transfer undocumented immigrants to federal authorities.
ICE expressed concerns about public safety under current state policies, highlighting that releasing individuals like Martínez into communities poses a risk to all Californians.
