ORLANDO, Fla. – A jury found Robert Corchado, the man accused of causing a deadly day care crash in Winter Park, guilty on all seven charges.
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Corchado, 29, was accused of hitting a Toyota Solara, causing it to crash into a KinderCare Child Day Care Center and then leaving the scene in April. The crash killed 4-year-old Lily Quintus and injured more than a dozen others.
The jury received the case just before 6 p.m. Monday and announced the verdict a short time later.
Earlier in the day, Corchado took the stand in his own defense, admitting to having and selling drugs. He said half the drugs and money belonged to his friends.
He also said he thought the accident was "just a little bump," adding that he left the scene to avoid getting a ticket.
Prosecutors rested their case on Friday. The state called Orange County crime scene investigators to testify about what was found in Corchado's SUV. Corchado is also accused of having drugs in the SUV when the day care crash occurred. Experts testified the drugs were heroin, cocaine and marijuana.
An undercover drug agent with the Florida Department of law Enforcement testified the amounts of drugs Corchado allegedly had are consistent with drug trafficking. Jurors were shown pictures of the substances in small plastic bags.
"This is the most common way that drugs this size are packaged," the agent said.
Prosecutors said there was also $5,000 in Corchado's backpack. The agent testified the way the money was bundled with color-coded rubber bands is indicative of drug-dealing.
"That's how they identify where the money comes from by the different colored rubber bands," the agent said.
In the trial's first day, jurors heard emotional testimony from day care workers about the moments before the vehicle crashed into the building. Jurors also heard from Albert Campbell, the man who was driving the Toyota Solara Corchado is accused of hitting, causing it to crash into the building.
Corchado was charged with seven counts, including trafficking heroin, leaving the scene of an accident with death, possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Corchado is set to be sentenced Jan. 16 at 1:30 p.m., when he will face at least 30 years in prison. The judge said Monday night that Corchado's habitual offender status may impact his sentencing.
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