Driver who killed child in DUI crash says his suffering is worse than victim's family's

Yahoo

23-04-2025

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A judge sentenced a man to 5-12 years in prison for driving under the influence and killing a child.
Guillermo Chochi-Senobla, 47, drove drunk and ran over 5-year-old Kamari Jordan Wolfe as the child's mother dropped him off at a North Las Vegas school on Oct. 6, 2023.
'It's like losing my breath, but never catching it again,' Jasmyn Wolfe, Kamari's mother, said in court on Wednesday. 'That day flashes before my eyes every time I close them… My heart is broken.'
Chochi-Senobla was driving his work van by the school drop-off area outside the Losee campus of Somerset Academy and drove into the oncoming traffic lane to pass two stopped vehicles dropping children off.
Kamari Wolfe had just exited his mother's vehicle and walked across the driveway where Chochi-Senobla hit him.
His blood alcohol content was .098, according to court documents obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators, while Nevada's legal limit is .08.
On Wednesday, Chochi-Senobla gave a lengthy statement through a Spanish interpreter before Clark County District Court Judge Jessica Peterson sentenced him. At times, his statement was rambling, showing self-pity and a lack of remorse.
He eventually apologized after Peterson interjected several times and showed frustration with him.
'Please, I'm asking everybody, the judge, the family, please, I'm sorry. Please help me,' Chocha-Senobla said. 'Please forgive me.'
Chochi-Senobla asked to show Peterson a drawing of what he said occurred in the incident. Defense attorney Corbett Benjamin Scroggins then explained to him that he could not produce diagrams during the hearing.
Chochi-Senobla then blamed Scroggins, claimed he was intimidated and threatened in his jail cell, and prevented from reading court documents. He insisted he is not a bad person, grew up in a Christian family with good parents, and has several children of his own, including three in Africa.
He insisted he had never committed a crime and had never been in jail until the fatal incident. He told Peterson he came to the United States through asylum.
'Every time I think about my child, that is the child that first appears in front of my eyes,' he said referring to Wolfe before he asked for mercy. 'I didn't see the child. Had I seen him, that would have not happened.'
'Had you not jumped out of line in the line of cars and been impatient, it wouldn't have happened,' Peterson said. 'I've seen the video. I don't need a picture.'
'I have already lost everything,' Chochi-Senobla told Peterson. 'I want them to know that my suffering is worse than theirs.'
'I can't even believe what you just said,' Peterson said. 'I am appalled.'
Peterson told Scroggins, 'He needs to understand this is not the time and place to try to tell the court why he's suffering.'
Scroggins told Peterson that Chochi-Senobla did not follow his advice.
'From the bottom of my heart, I asking you with all my respect, forgive me please, I'm really sorry for that baby,' Chochi-Senobla said. 'It was a baby, a baby, a baby. I'm innocent.'
Robert Wolfe, the child's uncle, said the family does not forgive Chochi-Senobla.
'He has zero remorse for what he did,' the uncle said. 'We do not accept that apology, because it was not heartfelt.'
'This man made the decision to drive intoxicated,' Kari Schultz, the child's grandmother, said as she wept.
Schultz noted Kamari's seven-year-old brother witnessed his death and ran to the school for help.
Peterson noted she was trying not get upset on the bench and had a duty to make decisions on a legal basis.
'I can't even imagine the pain you are feeling,' Peterson told Schultz. 'Forgiveness is not for him. It's for you.'
Scroggins had filed a motion in the case to suppress the blood alcohol level, citing a language barrier as he is Spanish-speaking.
Peterson denied the motion on Jan. 21, pointing out Chochi-Senobla voluntarily allowed his blood to be drawn within two hours of the incident, he never expressed any problems regarding his English proficiency as he talked with officers, and some of his jail calls were in English. She also noted during a citation with a Henderson police officer on Feb. 3, 2024, he interacted in English.
Peterson also noted in her order that officers failed to inform Chochi-Senobla of the particular rights he was waiving by consenting to the blood draw. Suppression is not warranted because a blood draw would have been inevitable based on the video of the crash and Chochi-Senobla's admission to pain medication, according to Peterson.
Scroggins said Chochi-Senobla was driving at a speed of nine miles per hour and had about a second to react. He also noted the area where the incident occurred was not a designated school zone. Chochi-Senobla is involved with multiple jail programs, including Alcoholics Anonymous, according to Scroggins.
Guillermo Chochi-Senobla pleaded guilty to driving and/or being in the actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence resulting in death, a felony, on March 2. The charge carries mandatory prison time ranging from two to 20 years in the Nevada Department of Corrections.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson told the 8 News Now Investigators the plea agreement was a great result in the case because Chochi-Senobla faced the maximum penalty under the law and waived his right to appeal.
Peterson required the installation of a breath ignition interlock device at Choci-Senobla's expense in any vehicle he owns or operates for 36 months after his release from prison if his driver license is reinstated.
The Department of Motor Vehicles will revoke or suspend Chochi-Senobla's license for at least three years, according to the plea deal.
Prosecutors agreed to make no recommendation at the time of sentencing and an additional charge of reckless driving resulting in death and/or substantial bodily harm was dismissed.Chochi-Senobla posted bail on Nov. 3, 2023, and was released from jail, according to court records. He was cited for charges of operating a vehicle with expired registration or plates and failure to pay attention while driving on Feb. 3, 2024, and was remanded into custody, records show. In court documents, the judge noted she admonished Chochi-Senobla and added a condition of no driving without a valid license while out of custody on bail.
Chochi-Senobla was taken into custody for an additional house arrest violation on July 20, 2024, records show.
Chichi-Senobla had a previous DUI on his record in Texas, which appeared to be dismissed.
Chochi-Senobla told Peterson his own child had previously been hit by a vehicle, which the 8 News Now Investigators are unable to confirm.
'Las Vegas DUI crimes have gotten out of control,' Jasmyn Wolfe said. 'It has to stop. Make a choice. Don't drink and drive.'
Wolfe said she partnered with Stop DUI and created a foundation in her son's name.
She also described having compassion for Chochi-Senobla's daughter, who attended her son's school, and would have to live with knowing her father took a life.
Peterson gave Chochi-Senobla credit for 344 days already served in jail. He also must pay a $2,000 fine.
This is a developing story.
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