Former Texas sheriff’s deputy charged in hit-and-run death of California man, prosecutors say

A former Texas sheriff’s deputy has been charged in the hit-and-run death of a California man over the summer, prosecutors said Monday. 

Giovanni Ceja, 31, pleaded not guilty in Riverside County in connection with the Aug. 7 death of Gilberto Sotelo, the Riverside County District Attorney’s office said. 

Ceja is charged with second-degree murder and hit-and-run involving death.

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The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office previously told Fox News Digital that Cejas was visiting family in Riverside when the incident occurred. He borrowed a family member’s vehicle and drove to a bar Aug. 6.

He allegedly consumed “multiple” alcoholic drinks before driving back to a family member’s home, authorities said. During the drive, he ran into Sotelo, who was putting gas into his truck on the side of a road. 

“Ceja did not stop to render aid and fled the scene,” the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said.

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Sotelo died at the scene. Ceja was arrested a week later in San Antonio, Texas and extradited to California. 

He resigned from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office in lieu of termination and was given a dishonorable discharge.