Pasco Man Pleads Guilty In April Fatal Hit-And-Run

A prison sentence is likely awaiting a gang member who admitted in court Monday he was fleeing police when he smashed into another vehicle, killing a Pasco father.

24-year-old Miguel A. Paniagua plead guilty in Franklin County Superior Court, and according to prosecutors, admitted committing the majority of the acts he is charged with.

Paniagua was fleeing police after a traffic stop near Fifth and Sylvester streets April 2nd when he slammed into a car driven by 36-year-old Jason E. Smith. Smith, married with 2 children, died at the scene.

Paniagua, who is a documented gang member, fled the scene on foot because he was wanted on numerous counts by Pasco police. Paniagua admitted he was driving nearly 100 miles per hour when he broadsided the Honda driven by Smith near the intersection of Road 36 and Sylvester. He is being charged with four felonies related to the fatal crash.

A loaded 357 magnum was found in the truck Paniagua was driving, he fled the scene but was captured two weeks later.  He was wanted for failure to pay fines from SIX related court offenses.

Officials believe he will receive around 8 1/2 years in prison, some critics say it should be twice as long, or longer.