Hit-and-run suspect arraigned

By BRAD DICKERSON
Glasgow Daily Times

July 19, 2008 03:11 pm

— A suspect in the hit-and-run death of volunteer firefighter Lloyd Mabry made his initial court appearance Friday afternoon.
Jorge Rodriguez Pacheco, 19, is charged with reckless homicide, tampering with physical evidence, leaving the scene of a crime and failure to report an accident.
Appearing before Barren District Court Judge John Alexander, Pacheco was read his rights via the assistance of an interpreter since he does not speak English.
The suspect listed his name as Norberto Figueroa Ortiz, the name initially given to authorities when they began searching for persons of interest in regards to the June 22 accident. Barren County Sheriff Chris Eaton said Pacheco was the name the suspect gave to both local authorities and deputies with the West Palm Beach County, Fla., Sheriff’s Department, where he was apprehended on July 10 before returning to Barren County on Wednesday.
Norberto Figueroa Ortiz was believed to be an alias, according to Eaton.
The sheriff added that Pacheco said he was the one driving the vehicle that struck the motorcycle Mabry was riding on Peters Creek Road.
He also allegedly admitted to fleeing the accident scene.
Mabry died from his injuries on June 30 at Vanderbilt Hospital.
In the early stages of the investigation, authorities were looking for persons of interest with the names Norberto and Modesto Figueroa, as these were the initial names given to law enforcement.
Detective Rusty Anderson, with the Barren County Sheriff’s Department, said Modesto Figueroa is still in Florida and gave authorities the name Jose Pacheco and said he was 18.
Anderson added that Jose Pacheco is presently not under arrest, but that he will see if a grand jury would indict him, as well as the brothers’ parents, both in the car, with tampering with physical evidence since they allegedly helped hide the vehicle.
Pacheco, who is believed to be a native of Mexico, is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing July 25 at 3 p.m., in Barren District Court. He remains in custody at the Barren County Correctional Center in lieu of a $100,000 cash bond.