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DUI manslaughter convict apologies in court
In court on Wednesday, Jorge Britton found out he'll spend decades in prison. Gloria Gomez reports.
TAMPA, Fla. - A man convicted in a deadly DUI crash along I-4 learned his fate on Wednesday afternoon.
According to prosecutors, in the early morning hours of December 15, 2021, Jorge Britton was drunk and behind the wheel when he caused a deadly crash on the interstate that killed a driver of a Toyota Camry, Douglas Kay Jr and his passenger Jason Rzechula.
They say Britton's irresponsible choices, are the reason for the fatal crash.
After a three-day-long trial in April, the jury deliberated for only two hours before convicting Britton on seven charges, including two counts of DUI manslaughter and two counts of vehicular homicide.
At his sentencing Wednesday afternoon, Britton apologized to the victim's families for the lifetime of pain he caused them.
"I could never understand the true horror and unimaginable pain I’ve inflicted for my actions. I can only imagine receiving the news of such loss. If I was in your shoes, I probably wouldn’t forgive myself," said Britton.
Investigators determined that, on the night of December 14, 2021, Britton went to a Tampa Bay Lightning game with a woman named Celellys Caputo and drank beer.
They then headed to a strip club in Tampa where they met up with another woman named Iralys Valido, who worked there.
The trio had more drinks and then decided to head to the Hard Rock.
Jorge Britton was convicted of killing two men and injuring two women in a DUI crash.
Surveillance video from the club shows Britton's Audi r-8 convertible leaving around one in the morning.
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The two women were sharing the passenger seat of the sports car and weren't buckled in.
While speeding and changing lanes, Britton struck a 2007 Toyota Camry that exploded on impact.
While speeding and changing lanes, Britton struck a 2007 Toyota Camry that exploded on impact, according to prosecutors.
The Camry's driver, Douglas Cade Jr., and his passenger, Jason Rzechula, were killed instantly.
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Caputo and Valido were both critically injured, but survived and were able to testify during his trial about what they remembered.
"I just remember listening to music in the car and that’s it and just drunk," Valido said on the stand.
"I was looking for my phone and I remember Ms. Valido screaming, ‘Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God,’ and when I went to see I just saw like a bright light, and then that’s it. I don’t remember nothing else," Caputo recalled.
Jorge Britton was sentenced on Wednesday afternoon.
The speed limit on the road was 55 mph, and Florida Highway Patrol later found that Britton was driving at 154 mph.
A blood alcohol test administered about an hour after the collision indicated that Britton’s blood alcohol content was close to the .08 limit. A second test about two hours after showed his blood alcohol at .067, so his attorney tried to argue that wasn't enough to consider him impaired.
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Britton even took the stand at his own trial where he denied being drunk and driving recklessly.
He wasn't happy with the guilty verdict either.
He later tried to part ways with his attorney and is trying to ask for a new trial.
Britton apologized to the victims' families in court.
During Britton's sentencing, Jason Rzechula's sister, Beth, had biting words for the man who stole so much from them. Her statement was read by victim advocate for the Hillsborough state attorney’s office, Mimi Gorrin.
"I cannot express the amount of heartache you have a caused our family. You in one night destroyed our lives forever," read Gorrin.
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Arguing for a light sentence, Britton’s attorney John Trevena told the court his client has no criminal history, was recently diagnosed with PTSD, and suffered abuse as a child.
He also blamed Hollywood for glorifying fast cars and racing.
Britton did not react to his decades long sentence in court.
"This type of behavior is encouraged. It’s glorified. It’s made to look heroic to drive like that. To act like that on the highways," argued Trevena.
But, prosecutor Darrell Dirks reminded the court the only person responsible for this tragedy is Britton himself. After nearly an hour of testimony, Tampa Judge Robin Fuson had the final say, and he did not hold back.
"You got on the stand, and you basically lied, saying that you didn’t go over 70 mph. That you thought a semi caused the crash. There’s no evidence of that. You were trying to deflect the blame. You didn’t take responsibility for a single second the entire time, until you sat down in front of me today, knowing that today is a day of reckoning," said Fuson.
Jorge Britton will face 40 years behind bars followed by 20 years of probation.
Britton did not have a visible reaction to the 40-year sentence. He is now headed to prison.