NEW YORK -  Jose Heras, who pled guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter and bail jumping, both felonies, was sentenced to 3½ to 7 years in prison.  The sentence includes 2-4 years on the vehicular manslaughter charge consecutive with 1½ to 3 years on the bail jumping charge).

Heras pled guilty to causing the death of Kristen Nemec while driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated, at an excessive speed, and with a suspended license. On May 25, 1997, Heras struck and killed Nemec at the intersection of West Houston and Wooster streets and fled the scene without reporting the incident. He surrendered two days later and was arrested.

Bail was set at $3,500 cash or bond, which he posted. In July 1997, he was arraigned on the indictment. But in September 1997, Heras failed to appear in court and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. He was indicted for Bail Jumping in the Second Degree.

Heras absconded to Ecuador in order to avoid prosecution, adopted a false identity, and lived under an alias for 12 years. In August 2009, after a multi-agency international investigation, Heras was apprehended and deported back to the United States.