Lionel Torres-Mendozia was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 15 years probation in Pierce County Superior Court for two counts of homicide by vehicle for the 2020 accident in Bristol that resulted in the deaths of Dan Jr. and Jamie Young of Jacksonville, FL.
Mendozia pled guilty March 17 to two counts of vehicular homicide, one count of hit and run and driving under the influence (DUI) in the case. The plea deal was finalized the last week of April. He was sentenced by Judge J. Kelly Brooks to 10 years on the homicide by vehicle charges, one year on the hit and run charge and one year on the DUI charge.
Mendozia was additionally charged with a second hit and run violation and two additional counts of vehicular homicide because of the DUI and hit and run charges. Those charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
Shawn Wildes of the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case for the state. Torres-Mendozia was represented by Attorney Bradley Collins of Waycross.
Mendozia of Bristol has been in jail since the accident. He will receive credit for the almost three years he has already served.
The Youngs died as a result of a hit and run accident September 26, 2020.
Mendozia was driving an SUV and turned in to the path of the Youngs’ motorcycle as he attempted to make a left turn from Georgia Highway 15/121 onto Scuffletown Loop north of Bristol and just south of the Big Satilla Creek bridge at the Pierce-Appling County line.
Mendozia fled from the scene of the accident without stopping to render aid.
Mr. Young Jr., 54, died at the scene. Mrs. Young, 55, died shortly after arrival at the emergency room of Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross. The couple was returning from a trip to the mountains to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
Mendozia was arrested late on Saturday night of the accident by deputies with the Pierce County Sheriff’s office.
A civil suit against Torres-Mendozia brought by the surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Young is still pending.
