SPARTANBURG, S.C. — A driver was sentenced Monday in Spartanburg to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing two boys who were riding bicycles on a sidewalk along Asheville Highway.
A circuit court judge also ordered him to pay a combined 20,000 dollar fine.
The victims were identified as Dereon James Robins, 12, and Mikhail-Lee Smith, 9, both of Robin Circle in Spartanburg. Seventh Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette prosecuted the case for the Seventh Circuit Solicitor Office.
The crash happened around 12:20 p.m. on Asheville Highway at Brock Street, about three miles west of downtown Spartanburg. Perez was driving east when he left the right side of the road and struck the boys, a fence and a tree, court records and the solicitor office said.
Spartanburg police officers at the scene saw multiple open containers in the vehicle. Perez later said he drank about 15 beers the night before and eight more beers that morning before driving. His blood alcohol level was .264, well over South Carolina legal limit.
Both boys were taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where they died from their injuries. Perez also faced charges of driving without a license and driving with an open container and had been held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center.
