DES MOINES, Iowa — A 19-year-old’s vehicular homicide sentence was revoked after he was caught driving under the influence a second time.
Back in October 2024, now 19-year-old Lonnie Ray Hayes pled guilty to vehicular homicide by operating while intoxicated for a 2023 crash that killed 35-year-old Des Moines resident Roberto Eduardo Rodriguez-Peterson. According to the Polk County Attorney’s Office, Hayes admitted to being high on marijuana and driving over 70 mph on East 14th Street when he collided with Rodriguez-Peterson’s car.
District Judge David Nelmark suspended Hayes’ sentence and ordered him to serve four years of probation and complete mental health, and substance use screenings. Nelmark stated he suspended Hayes’ sentence partly due to his age, as he was 17 years old when the crash occurred.
In March 2025 Hayes was arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated – second offense and two counts of eluding. The attorney’s office said Hayes pled guilty to all the charges in June.
On Monday, District Judge David Porter revoked Hayes’ probation and sentenced him to up to 32 years in prison. Twenty-five years are for the vehicular homicide by operating while intoxicated charge. Hayes was also sentenced to concurrent five-year sentences for the eluding charges plus two years for the second OWI charge.
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