A Sallisaw man was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in Cherokee County June 10 after the jury deliberated over three hours.

Jacob Wayne Goodwin, 22, will remain free on a $25,000 bond until his formal sentencing, which is scheduled for Sept. 23 in Cherokee County District Court, Tahlequah.

Goodwin, who was 20 at the time, was driving a Ford pickup truck stolen from Tahlequah Police Officer David Craig according to court records. Goodwin was seriously injured in the crash that killed Jorge Espinoza-Ayala on Feb. 2, 2007.

Josh King, assistant district attorney who represented the state said Goodwin was driving a stolen vehicle, side swiped one vehicle then hit Espinoza-Ayala head on. King said he didn’t know what injuries Goodwin sustained from the crash but does remember that Goodwin wasn’t expected to live.

The jurors found Goodwin guilty on four different counts and recommended a 20-year term on the first-degree manslaughter charge, one year and a $2,400 fine on possession of a stolen vehicle, one year and a $2,000 fine on the driving under the influence charge. Jurors also recommended a $100 fine for possession of alcoholic beverage by a person under 21.

King said the jury left to deliberate the manslaughter charges about 3:25 p.m. and came back to read the verdict about 7:30 p.m.

King said he asked District Judge Mike Norman that Goodwin be taken into custody after the verdict was read. Goodwin’s attorney, Stephen Fabian, asked Norman to allow his client to remain free on bond. Norman allowed Goodwin to remain free provided Goodwin wear an ankle monitor and does not leave the state.

According to Sequoyah County court records, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol arrested Goodwin in March 2008 for driving under the influence and transporting an open container.