He instinctively ran, and the officer's death was unforeseeable to him- according to his attorney.
The illegal immigrant whose actions led to the death of Nassau County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Oliver, has been sentenced to two years in prison for illegally re-entering the country, which was the maximum sentence. He previously pled guilty to the charge.
Francisco Portillo-Fuentes was running from law enforcement in Nassau when Oliver chased, and was fatally hit by a car. Portillo-Fuentes was later found in Jacksonville. Court records show he had been deported from the country twice in the past, and had only gotten back in the US a short time before this incident.
Through his public defender, he had asked the judge to give him time served plus seven days.
In a sentencing memorandum, his lawyer says Portillo-Fuentes will think about Deputy Oliver and his family every day for the rest of his life. He wishes he had submitted to being taken into custody, rather than running away.
Portillo-Fuentes is a 26-year-old father and stepfather of five children. His wife is committed to relocating the family to El Salvador. Right now the children are with family in Texas.
Portillo-Fuentes has not been charged with Deputy Oliver's death. So far he has not been charged with any crime connected to running away from police.
After he serves his two years, Portillo-Fuentes will be deported. We’re told if he re-enters the US again, he will face a steeper sentence.