Former Texas officer charged with murder in California hit-and-run, prosecutors say

A former Texas law enforcement officer is now facing murder charges in connection to the hit-and-run death of a California man. The man leaves behind a wife and seven children.

Prosecutors in California made the announcement this week. A press release from the Riverside County District Attorney's Office states that 31-year-old Giovanni Ceja is charged with second-degree murder in connection to the death of 38-year-old Gilberto Sotelo, of Lake Elsinore, California.

The fatal hit-and-run took place Aug. 7 on Interstate 215 in Lake Elsinore, a city in western Riverside County, according to information from prosecutors and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) who responded to the crash.

According to KABC-TV in California, Ceja was on vacation in California at the time of the crash and returned to work back in Texas "without informing his own department about the incident, even when he started answering questions from Southern California investigators."

Ceja, an ex-correctional corporal with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office in San Antonio, Texas, pleaded not guilty Monday to one count of second-degree murder and one count of hit-and-run involving death, prosecutors wrote in the release.

According to the release, Ceja entered his plea during an arraignment at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

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Allegations of driving under the influence

Ceja is accused of driving while drunk, running his vehicle into the victim as well as the victim’s disabled truck, then driving away. The crash, the California Highway Patrol reported, took place during the early morning hours on the southbound shoulder of the freeway.

Sotelo was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release.

The CHP later identified Ceja as the driver, the release continues, and Ceja was arrested by his law enforcement agency in San Antonio on Aug. 14.

Ceja was extradited by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on Aug. 27.

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A husband and father of seven

An online fundraiser created by the victim's niece Veronica Sotelo last month to help pay for medical bills had raised more than $46,000 at last check on Friday.

His niece posted on the page that her uncle is survived by his wife and seven children.

"My aunt was there when it happened as she experienced the (worst) moment of her life as she called 911," the victim's niece wrote. " Your help and donations will go towards helping with the burial and helping my aunt and the kids with anything they may need during their time of mourning the loss of a wonderful husband and father."

Jailed without bond

Online records show Ceja remained jailed without bond Friday.

He is slated to appear in court next on Jan. 30, prosecutors say.

It was not immediately known if he has hired an attorney.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.