The family of a homeless woman who investigators think died in a fatal hit-and-run crash in Tampa is offended the 17 year-old suspect in the case has not yet accepted a plea deal that's been offered to her, according to the family's attorney.
"There is a plea deal that has been made, and it's not been accepted, " said Michael Maddux, who represents the family of Melissa Sjostrom, a 33-year-old woman killed Feb. 8 as she crossed Hyde Park Avenue near the Davis Islands Bridge. Jordan Valdez, 17, is accused of driving the car that killed Sjorstrom.
Valdez was 16 when she was accused of hitting Sjorstrom and then driving to her Davis Islands home. Thursday, Valdez turned herself in after she was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident. The teen faces an adult felony charge that carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Maddux says plea deal negotiations have been in the works for weeks. He says the deal involves no prison time and would allow Valdez to be sentenced as a youthful offender, without adjudication if she upholds the rules of her supervision.
"She is still trying to get a better deal from the court than what's been offered to her, and that's offensive to the victim's family, " Maddux said.
Attorneys for Valdez and her family said Thursday the case isn't being held in juvenile court. Eddie Suarez, the attorney for Valdez's father, says the teenager knows she did wrong. He said Jordan Valdez is "embarrassed by the fact she panicked and left the scene."
Maddux says the Sjorstrom family isn't seeking incarceration for Valdez but full accountability.
"If she's trying to get better than the state's offer, then she's not fully accepting responsibility," Maddux said.
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