Judge Denies Bail for Driver in Fatal DUI Incident

A judge has refused bail for a Mexican immigrant accused of driving under the influence and killing two young boys in South Carolina.

Eli Otoniel Robrero Perez faced a Spartanburg County judge on April 13, where the request for his release was denied. According to Spartanburg County Attorney Barry Barnett, Perez poses a flight risk due to his undocumented status and is also viewed as a potential danger to the community. Each DUI felony charge could lead to a maximum of 25 years in prison.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that ICE has moved to detain Perez, asserting that he entered the U.S. without authorization. Acting Assistant Secretary of State Lauren Biss remarked that “these criminal illegal aliens from Mexico didn’t need to come to our country, but now two young boys have died because they decided to drink and drive.”

Barnett indicated in court that state troopers quickly identified Perez as being significantly impaired at the crash scene. He noted, “I could smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from him. His speech was very slurred, and he was unable to communicate his thoughts or answer questions.”

On April 12, the victims, 12-year-old Deleon James Robinson and 9-year-old Mikhail Lee Smith, were riding their bicycles on a sidewalk near Asheville Highway when Perez’s vehicle veered off the road and struck them. Tragically, both children succumbed to their injuries at Spartanburg Medical Center shortly after the incident. DeLeon’s mother, Megan Wilson, was walking with the boys when the crash occurred. In a heartbreaking statement, she expressed, “I want him to know that he took my child before his birthday. I saw him almost hit me, and I ran to my son and held him as he bled to death.”

Perez is also facing additional charges for operating a vehicle without a license and having an open container. The passenger in his vehicle fled the scene and is still unaccounted for. Perez is set to appear in court again on June 18.