Man pleads guilty, faces deportation

PROVO — A man who allegedly set his car on fire and helped his brother push it off a cliff to avoid police investigation for a hit-and-run accident pleaded guilty Tuesday rather than be tried in court on charges against him.

Aldo Ruiz-Gomez, 19, pleaded guilty to one third-degree felony of possession of a forgery writing device. In exchange, charges of abandoning a fire, obstruction of justice and identity fraud were dropped.

Ruiz-Gomez was charged in April after police linked him and his brother, Edwin Ruiz-Gomez, 26, to a red Pontiac Firebird that had been found charred at the bottom of the Thistle overlook in Spanish Fork Canyon.

The same car had been involved in a pedestrian accident on April 15 in which a 15-year-old Springville boy, Joshua Evans, was severely injured. Evans has since recovered and is doing well.

Edwin Ruiz-Gomez pleaded guilty in that case and was sentenced June 5 to 60 days in jail with credit for time served.

During his sentencing hearing, he told the judge through an interpreter that he had acted rashly because he was scared. Both of the brothers are in the country illegally.

Aldo Ruiz-Gomez initially chose to go forward with trial and was scheduled for a jury trial in 4th District Court Wednesday and Thursday.

However, he changed his mind and accepted the deal Tuesday during a pretrial conference, according to court records.

He was given credit for time served in the Utah County Jail and will be released to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for deportation.

He was advised by the judge that if he comes back to the United States he will face prison time, according to court records.

Calls to Aldo Ruiz-Gomez's attorney were not immediately returned.