Sentencing for killer truck driver delayed
By Leslie Wood - Staff Writer

GALLUP — Judge Grant Foutz postponed the sentencing date of a Florida truck driver who killed one man and injured several others during a rampage along Interstate 40 last year.

Foutz is awaiting the completion of a pre-sentence report to decide whether to sentence James Christian to 12 years in prison, as recommended by Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Calligan.

Public Defender Steve Seeger also said he needed more time to prepare for Christian's sentencing.

Christian pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts in connection with a January 2005 crash that killed Phoenix resident Jos Figueroa and injured his passenger Fred Angwenyi. Reports indicate Christian may have been under the influence of illegal drugs when he slammed his semi-truck in to the rear of Angwenyi's vehicle causing it to slide off the roadway.

Figueroa was subsequently ejected from his semi-truck's sleeper unit and was pronounced dead at the scene. Foutz did, however, opt to hear testimony from Figueroa's family regarding the impact Jose's death has made on their lives. Foutz allowed the testimony because the family had traveled from Phoenix to make Friday's court date.

He said he would take the family's testimony into consideration when sentencing Christian at the yet-to-be-scheduled date.

Evelyn Martinez, Jos Figueroa's 9-year-old niece, said Figueroa acted as her father.

"He loved me and once we lost him, it made me very sad," Martinez said.

Clarissa Figueroa, Jos Figueroa's 8-year-old daughter, said Jos had promised to make a cake with her, but was killed before he could return to Phoenix.

Angwenyi also testified about the financial hardship he's experienced since the crash because he was temporarily unable to work because of his injuries. He is slated for surgery to remove a blood clot in his knee.

Seeger said Christian has displayed remorse for his actions and that there is no risk that he would not show up for the upcoming sentencing date. However, Foutz decided to take Christian into police custody pending his sentencing.