Janesville man given 5 years in hit-and-run
Photo 
Omar Miguel Lopez
JANESVILLE — Bradley Griffith wore a helmet and neon orange vest as he drove his motorcycle April 11.
But he had the misfortune of being on the same road at the same time as Omar Miguel Lopez, who was speeding at 50 mph on Mt. Zion Avenue and ignored a red light before colliding with Griffith at Pontiac Drive.
That’s how Assistant District Attorney Katharine Buker described the reckless actions of Lopez at his sentencing hearing Wednesday in Rock County Court.
Several people were in the area when the crash happened at about 4 p.m., and they could tell Griffith was seriously injured, likely fatally, she said.
“Mr. Lopez, who was the person who caused those injuries, didn’t stay to help. He left,” she said.
Judge Richard Werner sentenced Lopez, 24, of 2323 Mt. Zion Ave., Janesville, to five years in prison and five years on extended supervision and ordered him to pay $8,051 in restitution. Buker said she expected Lopez would be deported after his prison sentence.
Lopez pleaded guilty in October to felony hit-and-run resulting in death. In exchange, charges of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, causing death while driving with a revoked license and domestic battery were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
After the crash, passersby tended to Griffith while a witness followed Lopez as he drove east, southeast, north, west, down a dead end, exited his vehicle, got into a second vehicle and later a third vehicle, Buker said. Police arrested Lopez, who said he left the scene because he was scared.
Lopez was not intoxicated or impaired; it was his character that led him to run, Buker said. He previously had been convicted of hitting an occupied vehicle and fleeing the scene.
“He had the opportunity to learn that we have laws against speeding and hitting other vehicles and running away,” she said. “Mr. Miguel Lopez thinks that what he wants matters, and the rights and the safety of others don’t matter.”
Griffith, 45, Janesville, died about a month after the crash.
Lopez said through a translator Wednesday that he was very sorry, and he never intended to cause any harm.
“I fled because I was afraid,” he said in Spanish. “I didn’t have a driver’s license, and I’m illegal.
“I feel very bad about what happened. I want to ask forgiveness,” he said.
Lopez wiped his eyes as he asked for forgiveness from Griffith’s family.
“I hope they can understand,” he said.
Dressed in orange jail clothes, Lopez sat with his head down during the sentencing.
Griffith’s father and one of two brothers in attendance told the court how difficult the situation—including the month Griffith was in a coma—has been on their family. They requested the maximum sentence.
“This is the second senseless act that he has experienced,” Todd Griffith said of his brother.
More than two decades before the fatal crash, Griffith suffered severe head injuries when he was mugged, his brother said. He spent the rest of his life dealing with those injuries, which left him with severe paranoia, he said. At times, he became distant from his family.
Griffith was starting to get his life back together and contacted his family the Christmas before his death.
“And then another senseless act happens again,” Todd Griffith said. “This was no accident, your honor. When a person drives recklessly through an intersection at 50 mph, bad things are going to happen.
“For every day you give him behind bars, it’s another day he doesn’t come back here and do this to your family, to yours, or to yours,” he said pointing. “He’s a bad person.”
Jan 31, 2010 at 8:12 p.m.
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Of course the ACLU might object so we could always put them into the auto test programme also. Of course we might loose a few now & then in the testing but there is a huge supply so that wouldn't be a problem for quite some time
Jan 31, 2010 at 8 p.m.
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Hey, I have a job that all the illegals could have. Let then be crash dummies in the auto safety tests! I'm sure nobody would begrudge them having that job!
Jan 31, 2010 at 7:40 p.m.
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Lets just strap him to a bike and slam into him with a truck.
Better yet, fly him back to mexico and throw him off the plane when they get there. Just forget to LAND the plane first.
Jan 22, 2010 at 4:13 p.m.
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You are correct. I see no remorse in this picture. Smugness explains it well.
They talk about giving illegals a license. Sorry I don't think he would drive any better just because it was legal for the illegal to drive. 25 is the same number in Spanish or English. It is on the sign match it up to your speedometer!
Jan 22, 2010 at 4:10 p.m.
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the usa lets any one in our states now days
so i guess if i drove over a mexican in wisconsin i would get 20 years in if ithappens
in rockcounty and would have to pay there
family thousands of dollars so they can send
more familes up here
Jan 22, 2010 at 3:44 p.m.
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PS.. And I forgot to mention.. Does anyone else see what I see in that mug shot... Smugness, Arrogance, & Contempt. You know what.. They'll deport the B@st@rd, & he'll do what the rest who get deported do.. Have a friend meet him in McAllen, TX.. or another border city, & drive him right back up here. There's no getting rid of these Illegals unless we seal that border.
Jan 22, 2010 at 3:38 p.m.
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Happycamper is correct! When are we going to stop with the Political Correctness crap, & call these people what they are.. Here, "Illegally" & breaking our laws! This guy hit & run once, NOT killing someone, so SOBER does it for a second time, but ends up taking another human life, & getting 5 YRS in Prison for it! Thats ridicules too. Why plea bargain with Illegals?! They are not (or Should not) be covered under the same systems LEGAL Citizens are covered (i.e. constitutional rights, etc). And I say that because its obvious to me that they take advantage of our way of life, & our generosity.. our laws (or loop-holes in laws wide enough to drive a tank through) where the rest of us are crucified when we do the very same things. The reason for Judges leniency towards Illegals... Because they don't want the Illegal Alien Special Interest Groups to perceive them as being hard on Illegals. In 2009 there were 521 Corporations,trade associations, business groups, labor organizations, government entities, and nonprofit organizations paying off our politicians to NOT create laws with any teeth to do anything about these freeloaders. And God knows we have enough freeloaders here legally. AND please don't give me any crap about them, "Working jobs no one else will do." I was here before they invaded this country, & we had no problems filling jobs then. As a matter of fact, there were more summer jobs for kids before they showed up. The only thing Illegals created is Cheap Labor, thus making Company executives richer, while employees got paid less. PERIOD!
Jan 22, 2010 at 3:37 p.m.
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Five years for hit & run fatality? With time off for good behavior, he'll be out in two and a half. Hmmm, does that mean that Knoepp will get fifteen years for the triple homicide three years ago? With time off for good behavior, that would be approximately seven and half. Sure seems fair to me. Let's face it, our system of justice is a little out of whack.
Jan 22, 2010 at 3:09 p.m.
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5 years for killing someone by hit and run -VS- life in prison for shooting them.
Sounds fair.
Jan 22, 2010 at 3:06 p.m.
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"Janesville Man"? Major screw up on headlines!
should have read: Illegal Mexican found guilty of killing Janesville man!
Jan 22, 2010 at 3:05 p.m.
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It wont be long! and we as Americans will running to their border to get away from this crapp !!!!I am sooooooooooooooooo sick of it.
Jan 22, 2010 at 2:05 p.m.
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I guess your name has to be Elian Gonzalez to be yanked out of this country by a SWAT team and returned to Cuba.
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:43 p.m.
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Truecitizen,
you know, if it took documentation of citizenship to rent an apartment or buy a house, we would nip a lot of this crap in the bud. However, Dane county has TAX MONEY set up to GIVE to illegal immigrants for home purchase. My head spins on this one.
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:36 p.m.
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Interestingly, today's Gazette describes a similar case in Milwaukee. The sentence was 10 years - still light for criminally taking a life. This says a lot about the Rock County District Atty and the Rock County Judge. I will be looking for a Gazette editorial.
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:29 p.m.
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What in the world is with all the plea deals? This wasn't his first offense! This is the best we can do for this family in regards to Justice? This man isn't sorry for the death of another man, he's sorry he was caught! There is a difference. He killed someone...he should be locked up for life. And shame on the judge for not doing so, when it comes time for election, he's not getting my vote....to many plea deals in this community and not enough punishment...it only leads to more crime because the little slap on the wrist is easily forgotten about. This is an outrage!
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:13 p.m.
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This turning a blind eye to illegal immigration starts at the very top, as someone said it's the votes! One of the current top agenda items in DC is "immigration reform". We all know what that means! Let's elect our own Scott Brown to the Senate, Congress, and The White House to represent us, get all this political correct crap thrown out! I will vote for the candidate that say "I will enforce and strenghten the immigration Laws", no matter what political party he or she is with!
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:59 p.m.
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Ship the bum back to Mexico!!!
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:15 p.m.
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He could pick up the trash all the way to Mexico.
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:11 p.m.
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At first glance, I too agree with many of the posts here in the sentence seems way too light. Maybe we do not have the full story and enough information but I doubt it. What I would really like to see is this murderer every single day of his 5 year sentence on the Interstates and Highways of Rock County picking up trash, 8 hours a day. If he makes it through, at least he will get some feeling of how the victim felt as vehicles speed by at speeds in excees of 45mphs.
Jan 22, 2010 at 10:47 a.m.
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God Bless the N.R.A.
Jan 22, 2010 at 10:28 a.m.
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I say deport NOW.Let him serve the time in a Mexican Prison on THEIR dime. pos
I remember people saying in a blog maybe he left because he wasn't legal. WELL seems this is so!
Why wasn't he deported when he was caught last time?
yooper"do not want to lose their illegal votes"
WHAT they cannot vote, can they?
Jan 22, 2010 at 8:35 a.m.
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Illegal activity leads to more illegal activity and disobeying the laws?! Who knew. Yes, the 5 year sentence is a curiosity. It's the discretion of the judge.
Jan 22, 2010 at 8:14 a.m.
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Janesville man given 5 years in hit-and-run??!!!??!??? Shouldn't it be something like "Janesville man gets off with five years for vehicular homicide"?
Jan 22, 2010 at 6:58 a.m.
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Can anyone explain to me how this is in any shape or form a fair sentence? How can a judge justify this light of a sentence? Was the judge simply following the law? I have no idea how this is right.
Jan 22, 2010 at 6:49 a.m.
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Truecitizen: I have called our "leaders" that are suppose to represent us for years about doing something about illegals and get the usual crap. Ryan, fiengold, kohl, robson, sheridan, etc. do not want to lose their illegal votes. I have called I.C.E. in Milwaukee and given them factory and other employers names who take advantage of this situation and they do not seemed to concerned, the agent I have worked with replied that they are after the criminal illegals first, which is a good thing, but they do not have the manpower to do much else. For you to say we are all "weak" and "unwilling to take action", you are way off base hero!!
Jan 22, 2010 at 6:06 a.m.
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The Gov. has to stop playing game's with this & deport them faster just think of the job's that would be there for American's if the the Gov. did ther job
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:43 a.m.
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Our hands as the people of america are tied. If we talk about protecting ourselves and our own borders with force we are terrorists. If we speak of them in a negative way we are racist. They come here illegaly and are given more rights than us that were born here. If you are not an American citizen how do you figure you have constitutional rights? That is OUR constitution! OUR rights! How would we be treated if we murdered someone in Mexico? I can only imagine. The worst part is when they hold a rights rally what flag do they wave? Not the American. If they are so proud of their country they should stay. Anyone who enters this country illegally should be considered a terrorist! Especially if they harm an American. Why should it make a difference if it is thousands of Americans in a skyscraper or one American on a motorcycle?
Jan 21, 2010 at 11:02 p.m.
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For all of you who are "outraged". Most of you will not be willing to speak out about things like this until it is too late. The illegal alien should not have been here in the first place. We are all weak and unwilling to take action. This is a very common event acrossed the nation, and these illegals are flooding the system, just to work jobs we Americans don't want to work (so-called).
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Stop giving anything to the undocumented aliens. Don't rent, employ, or allow for any more crazy legislation which helps them. This is only a national thing and NOT a racist view.
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The family members who spoke out in sincerity, I side with you on this. I hope the needless pain this guy caused, is less in time.
Jan 21, 2010 at 10:38 p.m.
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So a life is worth 5 years with room and board?
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What would the sentence have been for a licensed American taxpayer, driving a licensed and insured vehicle?
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This is an outrageous tragedy in all aspects!
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Since our present justice system continues to fail, "We The People" must create a justice system that does work.
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"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"
Jan 21, 2010 at 9:05 p.m.
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Wow. All I can say is wow. 5 Years for a person who broke our laws just being here, killing an innocent man? What has our court system come to? Non violent drug offenders get more time than that. Who are we protecting? I guess not the guy out on a harmless ride! A big F U Judge Werner! You should be deported!
Jan 21, 2010 at 7:12 p.m.
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I agree that the Mr.is totally uncalled for!Also when he stated he is ILLEGAL,AND DON'T have a drivers license,And CAN'T speak ENGLISH why did we waste OUR money to prosecute this Illegal Alien is beyond me,He and they meaning the resat of these freeloaders have more freakin rights than we do,They should have simply spent a few hundred bucks and shipped his Ass to Mexico.I would not complain about that would You!!!
Jan 21, 2010 at 6:39 p.m.
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The judge "if you can call him that" should go into prison right along side this scum. Why would there be any plea deals, the dirt bag was seen hitting this guy plus all the other laws he broke ... and they called him Mr lopez? What a joke.
Jan 21, 2010 at 6:11 p.m.
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Was he arrested the first time as an illegal? If so, there's no reason for him to still be here.
There's also no reason for him to serve his sentence in the U.S., as he is certainly an illegal now. Deport him, and save the money he'll cost in jail.
Jan 21, 2010 at 5:57 p.m.
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I am assuming that if the DA expects this piece of trash to be deported after his sentence that he is here in the US illegally.
1. Our border system should not have allowed him to enter the US illegaly.
2. He SHOULD have been deported after his first hit and run conviction
If he had been deported after committing his 2nd crime (border jumping and hit and run) then he would have been unable to kill Bradley Griffith. why are we allowing illegals to stay? Is this mans death worth turning a blind eye to illegals?
We need to round them up and ship them out.
Jan 21, 2010 at 5:16 p.m.
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The Gazette also screwed up the title by saying Janesville man gets five years. The truly accurate non politically correct title should read, "Illegal Imigrant from Mexico that killed a Janesville man gets off easy" Lopez is not a "Janesville Man", he is a law breaking transient scumbag. Please correct this Ms. Duwe when you get a chance. Thanks, Yooper.
Jan 21, 2010 at 5:01 p.m.
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PLEA AGREEMENT?!? With time off for good behavior, time already served, and overcrowding this scumbag will be back on the streets alot sooner than five years.This LOSER obviously has no regards to this nations laws and our spineless court system lets him off with basically a slap on the wrist. He leaves a man(American citizen) to die in the street and gets a couple years and is suppose to pay 8 grand for whatever(good luck on getting the money). This really makes me want to puke! We need a DA and judges in this county to grow a backbone and throw these scumbags away for life and throw the keys away. Be vigilant for yourself and your loved ones because our "elected" officals will not do it. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Griffiths family in this time of total injustice.
Jan 21, 2010 at 5:01 p.m.
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How long do we have to suffer the injustices that flow from a system that resorts to plea bargains even in a case like this? Is there no interest in justice in Rock County's criminal justice system? Is expediency the only thing that matters now? I suppose that Ms. Buker's expectations of exportation are suppose to substitute for justice, then? 5 years in prison and a free ticket back to whatever country Mr. Lopez came from is a the value of Bradley Griffith's life? Really? That's all his life is worth? There are only two conclusions that can reasonably be drawn, that there is no justice in Rock County and that all the money we spend on criminal justice is wasted.
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