Charges against driver in fatal rollover are dropped

Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against a man accused in the deaths of eight illegal immigrants in an SUV rollover in Utah's Four Corners area.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for Utah dismissed the indictment against Felipe Sales-Perez, claiming there is "insufficient evidence to sustain the government's burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt at trial."

However, Sales-Perez will not be released from government custody, federal prosecutors said Friday.

"The attorneys will be filing a motion asking that he be held a material witness," U.S. Attorney's spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch said.

Sales-Perez was one of three men indicted on a charge of transporting illegal aliens resulting in death, stemming from the April 16 rollover of an SUV on U.S. 191 near Bluff.

The Utah Highway Patrol said Rigoberto Salas-Lopez was the driver of a SUV stuffed with 14 illegal immigrants from Guatemala and Mexico — including Sales-Perez.

"There was some initial beliefs that (Sales-Perez) played a more prominent role (in the crash)," Rydalch said. "As the witnesses have been interviewed, it was diminished."

Troopers said witnesses indicated that Salas-Lopez, 30, was fondling a female passenger when he swerved and rolled the SUV.

While people lay dead and wounded, troopers said Salas-Lopez fled into the desert. After a 10-mile chase, he was finally captured.

Salas-Lopez told federal immigration agents that he had been paid $1,000 to drive the illegal immigrants from Phoenix to St. Louis. He accused Adolfo Manuel Espinoza, also known as Neftali Espinoza, of giving him the money.

Transporting illegal aliens resulting in death is a charge that could bring the death penalty. However, federal prosecutors recently filed papers in court indicating they do not intend to seek that punishment.

---

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com