A Ventura man is headed to prison after a jury found him guilty of a series of violent crimes that left a community in shock. Leonardo Palafox was convicted on December 15 of several felonies and misdemeanors following a terrible hit and run incident that happened earlier this year. The trial revealed a story of reckless driving and a coldhearted attempt to hide the truth.
đ´ A Terrifying Moment at the Red Light
The whole nightmare began on February 6 when Palafox was driving a blue truck through the City of Ventura. According to the District Attorney he was heading east on Thompson Boulevard when he decided to ignore a steady red light. As he blew through the intersection he narrowly missed hitting a pedestrian who was walking in the crosswalk.
While the pedestrian was able to jump out of the way their two dogs were not so lucky. The truck struck and killed both of the dogs instantly. Instead of stopping Palafox kept going and slammed head on into another car that was stopped at the light in the opposite lane. That crash caused serious injuries to the other driver.
đľď¸ DNA Evidence Cracks the Case
After causing all that chaos Palafox put his truck in reverse and sped away from the scene. He abandoned the vehicle less than a mile away and tried to cover his tracks by ripping the license plates off. But he was not as smart as he thought. When Ventura Police officers found the truck they saw fresh damage on the front and even found strands of dog hair caught in the grill.
The real break in the case came from science. Officers took a DNA swab from the steering wheel of the abandoned truck. The Ventura County Crime Lab analyzed the sample and found a single DNA profile that was a perfect match for Palafox. Since his info was already in the police system they knew exactly who they were looking for. Even though the truck was registered to his cousin the DNA proved Palafox was the one behind the wheel during the carnage.
âď¸ Facing the Consequences
Deputy District Attorney Patrick Benjamin prosecuted the case and said the investigation was key to holding Palafox accountable for such a terrible set of circumstances. The jury agreed and convicted him of leaving the scene of an accident as well as two felony counts of animal cruelty and destroying evidence.
Palafox was taken straight to jail after the verdict and is being held without any bail. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14 and he could face over four years in state prison for what he did. The victims are hoping that this guilty verdict finally brings them some closure after the loss of their pets and the injuries caused by his reckless choices.