Today (July 8), Ulises MORA (42), entered a plea to Count 1: DUI Manslaughter (F2); Counts 2 & 3: DUI with Serious Bodily Injury (F3); and Counts 4 & 5: Driving Under the Influence Causing Damage or Injury (M1), in connection to a 2019 fatal vehicle crash that took the life of a 9-year-old girl in Altamonte Springs.

 

As part of the plea agreement, Judge Melissa Souto adjudicated MORA guilty in Count 1 and sentenced him to ten (10) years in the Department of Corrections, followed by two (2) years Community Control, three (3) years of Supervised Probation, permanent revocation of his driver license, Substance Abuse Evaluation and Treatment, Psychosocial Evaluation, and 100 hours of Community Service. MORA was also adjudicated guilty in Counts 2 through 5, receiving an additional ten (10) years of Probation to be served consecutively. The State dropped one count of Driving Under The Influence and Causing Damage or Injury (M1).

 

On March 19, 2019, MORA had consumed alcohol and was driving his late model Porsche 911 at an excessive speed south on Montgomery Road. An Acura sedan with 4 occupants, including the victim, turned left across the southbound lanes and was struck in the side by MORA's car.

 

Plea negotiations began after MORA agreed to accept responsibility for the death of the child victim and the use of alcohol that contributed to the fatal crash. The State offered the 10 year prison sentence, along with the additional sanctions totaling 25 years, after consulting with surviving victims and family members who agreed with the plea terms and conditions. 

 

Today's plea hearing was rescheduled from July 1, to allow sufficient time for the reading of the victim's impact statements to the Court. All of the victims and survivors have invoked the protection of Marsy's Law and we are withholding any identifying information.

 

MORA was remanded into custody and will be transfered to the Florida Department of Corrections to begin serving his prison sentence.