CANTON, OHIO —
An illegal immigrant who was under the influence when he struck a Massillon City School District bus carrying eight high school students in February is expected to be deported from the U.S. after he serves a nine-month jail sentence.
Stark County Common Pleas Judge Charles Brown also placed Victor Velasquez, 22, who was living at 935 Green Ave. SW, in Massillon, on five years probation, revoked his driver’s license for five years and ordered him to serve 100 hours of community service.
However, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement likely will take Velasquez into custody upon his release from the Stark County Jail, according to Jose Iborra, Velasquez’ attorney.
“ICE will be notified (of Velasquez’ release) and they will absolutely take him,” Iborra said.
Velasquez, speaking through a court interpreter, declined to make a statement during the hearing.
Last month, Velasquez pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them, failure to stop after an accident and a fifth-degree felony charge of forgery.
Velasquez was driving a Pontiac Transport minivan when he rear-ended a school bus on the morning of Feb. 10 at Eighth Street and Tremont Avenue SW, according to police. The rear bumper of the bus was damaged in the crash but none of the students was injured.
Velasquez fled on foot, but city police officers caught up with him a short time later.
According to court records, Velasquez was carrying an open 12-pack of beer in his car and a fake driver’s license that identified him as David Rex Diaz. Police also found a Guatemalan identification card. Velasquez refused to take a breathalyzer following the crash.
Velasquez initially was charged with tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, but the charge later was amended to forgery by county prosecutors.
“It would have been hard to prove that he altered (identification) through a government office,” Iborra said. “It fit very neatly with the forgery charge.”