Ogden man found guilty of 2 auto homicides

Eddie Raymond Bustos, the Ogden man charged with killing two people by ramming into their car while trying to evade police, has been convicted by a jury of three felonies and will be sentenced May 8.

Bustos, 49, was convicted of two counts of automobile homicide and one count of failing to stop at the command of a police officer, all second-degree felonies. Another charge of second-degree felony possession of a controlled substance was dismissed.

Philemon Ellis, 62, and Jessica Nelson, 21, died on Dec. 13, 2005, when Bustos' car slammed into theirs at the intersection of 24th Street and Grant Avenue. Bustos ran a red light and hit the passenger side of the other vehicle. Ellis and Nelson were pronounced dead at the scene.

Bustos had been pursued by police, but they stopped chasing his car at least a block before this collision. The police officer who was in pursuit had turned off the siren and flashing lights and was stopped at a red light at 25th Street and Grant. The officer witnessed the fatal accident, according to Ogden Assistant Police Chief Randy Watt.

Second-degree felonies carry a potential prison term of one-to-15 years behind bars. Bustos will be sentenced by 2nd District Judge Pamela Heffernan.