Martin T. Maruffo, 41, of Bloy, Ariz., was charged in Sequoyah County District Court in Sallisaw with first-degree manslaughter in June. The charge against Maruffo related to a June 14 accident two miles east of Vian on Interstate 40.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), Maruffo was driving a 1988 Ford van at about 5:27 a.m. when he fell asleep and his van drifted onto the shoulder of the highway, striking the backend of a 2004 Chevrolet van that was parked on the shoulder of the road.
A passenger in the parked vehicle, Omar Garcia-Belasquez, 20, of Wister, later died from injuries that he sustained in the accident.
Maruffo pleaded no contest to the manslaughter charge Dec. 18, receiving a 10-year prison sentence, which will be suspended after Maruffo completes a therapeutic community drug program while in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
Maruffo was also ordered to pay various fines, costs, restitution, attorney's fees and other costs.
OHP Trooper Jason Holt interviewed Maruffo after the accident and Maruffo allegedly admitted that he had ingested heroin on the night prior to the accident. According to court records, Maruffo indicated during the interview that he wasn't aware of any problems with the vehicle and his explanation for the accident was that he fell asleep.
Prosecutors contended that Maruffo was driving under the influence of drugs, which caused the injuries that resulted in Belasquez's death.
Maruffo was also driving with a suspended Arizona driver's license at the time of the crash, according to court records.
