BELLVILLE — Jill McGinty, 52, of Bellville, pled guilty when she accepted a plea offer before her trial. Judge Jeff Steinhauser sentenced her to 30 years in prison in the 155th Judicial District Court.
The District Attorney's Office, headed by District Attorney Travis Koehn and with First Assistant District Attorney Brandy Robinson as lead chair, thanked first responders who aided in the night of the crash.
McGinty was indicted for intoxicated manslaughter in a car crash while being under the influence of prescription medication, causing the death of Elia Guerrero, 34, of Bellville, at 2:30 a.m., on July 17, 2022, on Highway 159, east of Bellville. McGinty had crossed the center lane of the roadway and struck the other vehicle head-on. Two others and McGinty were seriously injured.
Family and friends of the deceased, Elia Guerrero, appeared at the sentencing in her memory. A survivor of the ill-fated crash, Diana Aguayo, appeared at the sentencing also and offered a written statement honoring the loving presence Guerrero played in everyone’s life.
Robinson said, “With this prison sentence, we can at least be confident that we have one less intoxicated person driving on Austin County roadways who will instead be serving time behind bars.” She also noted there have been many fatal crashes on Highway 159 going toward Hempstead from Bellville.
