South Carolina Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Drunk Driving Deaths of Two Children
Eri Otoniel Roberto Perez, who consumed 23 beers before crashing into two boys on bikes, pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
A South Carolina man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing two children while driving under the influence of alcohol. Eri Otoniel Roberto Perez, 31, pleaded guilty in Seventh Judicial Circuit Court for the deaths of 12-year-old Dereon James Robinson and 9-year-old Mikhail-Lee Smith.
Perez was found to have consumed 23 beers before the fatal incident. He admitted in court to drinking 15 beers the night before and an additional eight the morning of the crash. His blood alcohol level was measured at .264 percent, significantly above South Carolina's legal limit of .08 percent.
The crash occurred around 12:25 p.m. on Asheville Highway near Brock Street. Perez was driving a 2016 Honda Accord at high speed while intoxicated when he lost control of the vehicle. The car veered off the roadway and struck the two boys, who were riding their bicycles on the sidewalk.
Perez pleaded guilty to felony DUI resulting in death, driving without a license, and driving with an open container of alcohol. He was fined $20,000 in addition to his prison sentence.
"My son was a great child. He was smart, intelligent, humble, a child of God. He loved his family, and he’d do anything for his family. He was my best friend, and I’m lost without him," stated Nikkita Christopher, Mikhail-Lee's mother, in court. Denise Wilson, Dereon Robinson's mother, wrote on Facebook, "my chest hurts my eyes are heavy my soul is empty holding my son that day, I died with him piece of me i can never and will never get back my son was only 12 he had his whole life ahead of him."
Circuit Court Judge Daniel Hall remarked, "There is no excuse. There is no lack of knowledge of the dangers, not only to society, but also the consequences to a defendant if they are drinking and driving."
Both boys were transported to Spartanburg Medical Center, where they succumbed to their injuries. Following Perez's arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed a detainer, alleging Perez had illegally immigrated from Mexico, though no evidence was provided to support this claim at the time of reporting.
A bike safety activist, David Matthews, held a memorial event at the crash site, placing 'ghost bikes' to honor the lives of Robinson and Smith. Perez's defense attorney stated that his client prays for the victims' families daily and must live with the consequences of his decisions.