SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - The former SDG&E employee accused of hitting and killing a pedestrian with his work truck in January changed his plea in an El Cajon courtroom Wednesday. Instead of not guilty he pleaded guilty to felony hit and run, which means Hector Hoyt could spend up to three years in prison.
Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom Wednesday, but CBS News 8 caught video (seen above) of Hector Hoyt outside of court. He's currently out on bail.
Hoyt's defense attorney said that the man Hoyt hit and killed was 54-year-old Robert Fisher who was on a "do not sell alcohol to" list in El Cajon and had been arrested approximately 200 times before.
Hoyt's attorney also said Fisher was a transient in the area and had a blood alcohol level between 0.21 and 0.25. He was also on a number of prescription drugs when he was running outside of a crosswalk on Jamacha Road around 10 p.m. January 6, 2014, which is when he was hit by Hoyt.
Hoyt is an El Cajon resident who worked for SDG&E for 38 years before being fired because he was driving his work vehicle after he had clocked out that fateful night.
Hoyt pleaded guilty to felony hit and run causing death. His attorney says those charges could have easily been avoided if Hoyt did not panic and leave the scene.
"He was not at fault, he did not do anything wrong. His crime was leaving the scene without leaving his driver license,” said the criminal defense attorney, Russell Robins.
"I think this is a fair resolution in this case,” said Deputy District Attorney George Modlin. "The amount of money and time saved taxpayers is quite a bit of money.”
On November 17, the judge will determine what the proper sentence is, but again Hoyt could face up to three years in prison.