Man Gets 2 Years for Leaving Scene After Girlfriend Jumps Out of His Moving SUV

A 22-year-old Irvine man pleaded guilty today and was immediately sentenced to two years behind bars for leaving the scene after his girlfriend -- with their 13-month-old child in her arms -- jumped to her death from the SUV he was driving in Santa Ana last Halloween.

Francisco Javier Montano pleaded guilty to hit-and-run involving a death and child abuse and endangerment, both felonies.

In accepting a plea bargain from Orange County Superior Court Judge Robert Fitzgerald, Montano also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving without a license.

Montano was driving a Toyota RAV4 east near 1600 West Edinger Avenue about 8 p.m. last Oct. 31 when 21-year-old Gloria Sanchez jumped out of the vehicle, said the defendant’s attorney, Roland Rubalcava. The couple’s daughter survived with minor injuries.

“She was in the backseat with the baby and she was despondent so she jumped out of the car. The guy got scared because he didn’t have a license,” so he fled the scene, Rubalcava said.

Montano later surrendered to authorities, his attorney said.

Montano received credit for 706 days behind bars and is expected to be released in a couple of weeks, according to Deputy District Attorney Stephen Cornwell.

The maximum punishment Montano could have faced if convicted at trial was 7 1/2 years in prison, Fitzgerald said.

--City News Service

PHOTO Patch file photo.

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