This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Farmington • On one day in May last year, Jose Antonio Orozco disregarded everything as he sought what he wanted, a Farmington judge said Wednesday.
Orozco disregarded a protection order that should have stopped him from going to his wife's workplace with flowers in hand, Judge David Hamilton said at the man's sentencing hearing.
Orozco disregarded traffic rules by speeding and drinking alcohol while on the road, and didn't pull over when an officer tried to stop him.
"You disregarded everything except for what you wanted to happen," Hamilton said, before sending Orozco to prison for up to 15 years. "…Of course, most significantly, you disregarded [Kelly] Allred's presence."
Allred was killed that day, after Orozco ran him over while he was walking in a Clearfield crosswalk.
Two weeks ago, Orozco, 38, pleaded guilty to second-degree felony manslaughter and third-degree felony failure to stop for police.
Orozco's attorney Todd Utzinger told Hamilton that he knew his client would get prison time for the crimes — and that the only question was whether Hamilton would run the two convictions concurrently or consecutively. Both prosecutors and the defense had recommended concurrent sentences, though Allred's family pleaded with the judge to sentence Orozco to the maximum sentence, which would be up to 20 years behind bars.
"This man should not have been on the road at all," MariannStoker, Allred's aunt, said. "... I think he should serve the maximum because he has not taken any responsibility."
But because the crimes occurred during one episode, Hamilton opted for the concurrent sentence, ordering Orozco to serve one-to-15 years for the manslaughter count to be served simultaneously with a zero-to-five year sentence for the third-degree felony.
Hamilton noted that Orozco will be deported to Mexico after he is released, and the judge warned him to not re-enter the country illegally.
During Wednesday's hearing, Orozco listened intently to Allred's family, and at one point asked a Spanish interpreter to stop translating because he wanted to focus on the grieving family's statements. When given the chance to speak, he was apologetic.
"The only thing that I can say is that I'm sorry," Orozco said, speaking with the aid of the interpreter. "I'm very sorry for Kelly's family, for the pain they are going through."
But the apology rang hollow for 27-year-old victim's family, they said after the sentencing.
"I didn't see any remorse in his face whatsoever," Stoker said.
Allred's ex-wife, Stephanie Allred, also said she didn't believe Orozco was truly sorry. She said her three children are still struggling and don't understand what happened to their father.
The family remembered Kelly Allred as a man who always had a smile on his face, who loved his children and enjoyed working with computers.
"There is a huge hole in our hearts," father Max Allred said. "We will miss his laugh and we will miss his smile."
Orozco was believed to be traveling at 60 mph or more when he struck Allred in the intersection of 700 South (Highway 193) and State Street (Highway 26).
Darla Allred, the victim's mother, has said that just before the accident her son had finished work and had walked to a nearby Maverik convenience store to buy hot dogs and a bag of Doritos.
He was walking back from the convenience store when he was struck. He died about four hours later at a hospital, according to his mother.
Twitter: @jm_miller