A 19-year-old Tucson man awaiting sentencing for a fatal crash got busted driving under the influence -- again.
After being convicted on October 30 of driving with an illegal drug in his system and leaving the scene after causing a fatal crash, Pima County Superior Court Judge Deborah Bernini let Miguel Rodriguez remain a free man while awaiting a December 11 sentencing.
Bad move.
Early Wednesday, the Pima County Sheriff's Office says Rodriguez was at it again.
After he unsuccessfully tried to buy booze at a convenience store, Rodriguez and a friend were reported by the store clerk as tgrying to score some liquor.
The cops showed up and tried to pull Rodriguez over in the parking lot of the store and, of course, he tried to flee.
Police managed to box in Rodriguez's car, and his buddy thought that was a good time to split. The fuzz got Rodriguez, though, and guess what they found -- some cocaine and a boozed-up teenager.
A breath test showed that Rodriguez had some alcohol in his system, and the cocaine was just the icing on the cake.
Rodriguez was arrested -- again -- and this time Bernini ordered Rodriguez held without bond on the new case, plus a $200,000 bond was imposed in his old case.
Rodriguez's original conviction stemmed from an incident in July, 2008, when Rodriguez made a left turn in front of 45-year-old Lenora Florez.
Florez hit Rodriguez's car, while not wearing a seatbelt, and she died almost instantly. Rodriguez fled the scene, but police caught up with him about 45 minutes later.
Rodriguez had marijuana in his system at the time of the crash and about a week ago, a jury convicted him.
Rodriguez's December 11 sentencing is still on, but a court date on his new charges has not been set.
