FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
SEPTEMBER 4, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TEXAS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER
Baltimore, Maryland - Rafael Muniz, age 26, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty today to involuntary manslaughter, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Muniz was scheduled to go to trial tomorrow.
According to the plea agreement presented to the court, at about 1:00 a.m. on February 25, 2007, Muniz was driving on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, with his girlfriend, Selfia Medina, age 20. Witnesses saw Muniz driving at a high rate of speed, swerving from lane to lane to pass slower traffic. The car spun out of control, swerved across the highway, rolled onto its side and crashed into a tree. Selfia Medina was thrown from the car and died on the scene from her injuries. Muniz, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, was arrested by U.S. Park Police and taken to Prince George's Hospital Center, where a blood sample taken at 3:27 a.m. showed a blood alcohol level of .19.
Muniz faces a maximum sentence of six years imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for November 16, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the U.S. Park Police for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Hollis Weisman, who is prosecuting the case.