DUI driver who killed Long Beach grandfather in violent crash gets 4 years in prison

A Long Beach woman who pleaded no contest to killing a grandfather while driving under the influence of alcohol was sentenced Friday to four years in state prison.

Authorities say Julie Afaq Haq was intoxicated when she ran a red light at the intersection of Anaheim Street and Atlantic Avenue while driving nearly 90 miles per hour on Feb. 20, and broadsided 60-year-old Rodger Watkins.

Watkins was on his way to his job as a custodian at Cal State Long Beach when Haq struck his car.

The force of the impact cause Watkins to lose control of his car, sending him careening into a traffic pole and nearby abandoned building. He died from his injuries at the scene.

Haq, meanwhile, was taken to a hospital where she admitted to police to having drank wine with a friend prior to the crash, according to a search warrant filed in Long Beach Court.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office filed one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated against Haq and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Though Haq pleaded not guilty at the time, she changed her plea on Oct. 15 to no contest.

Standing in Judge Judith Meyer's courtroom, which was filled with family, friends and colleagues of their beloved late father, Watkins' children all expressed how how much his death had impacted, not only their family, but their community.

They said Watkins was a man of faith— a pillar who inspired others and taught them to never lose themselves in the face of adversity.

"His life was stolen from us," said Watkins' step-son, David Pacheco, adding that his absence "is an empty wound that will never heal."

Fighting back tears, Mariela Salgado, Watkins daughter, looked back on the moment she got a call from her mother at 6 a.m. informing her that her father had been killed.

Over the next hour, she had to call all her siblings to let them know what had happened.

"I couldn't process or fathom what was coming," she said. "The formality of death and cruelty of the system."

Salgado's young daughter's, Noelle and Alexia, recalled spending time with their grandfather.

They'd often play basketball together and then go to the Dollar Tree where they'd buy snacks.

"It feels wrong to play basketball now," Noelle said. Her sister Alexia continued, saying there was now an "empty space in her heart."

Watkins' family said that the 60-year-old's notebook was found in the wreckage.

In it, he had written: "I am grateful I woke up today, I am grateful I have a wife, I am grateful I have a family."

Those words exemplified the type of father and friend Watkins was, they said.

"He was loved by so many," Watkins' wife Maria said through a letter read by their son Abel. "He had a positive impact on so many lives."

Abel added that Haq's actions had "scarred and terrorized" the people who loved Watkins.

Watkins' family all believed Haq was not taking responsibly for her actions or understood the severity of what she had done, pointing to her actions following the crash.

They said she never cared to ask about Watkins after the crash, and instead immediately sought legal counsel to represent her.

They told Judge Meyer that they wanted Haq to be sentenced to the maximum of six years in state prison.

Haq, visibly distraught, faced each person who came up to speak. At the end, she asked if she could address Watkins' family directly.

"I'm here before you today filled with guilt, sorrow and remorse," she said. "I understand that I don't deserve your forgiveness."

Haq went to to explain how she's been trying to honor Watkins' memory by speaking out about the dangers of driving under the influence, doing community service and raising awareness.

"Your family was rich," Haq said. "I'm so deeply sorry forever in my life for taking that away from you."

Haq's attorney Jeffrey Gold said that his client wasn't a "monster" but that sometimes ordinary people make "monstrous decisions." He then asked Judge Meyer to instead give her the low term of four years in prison.

For her part, Judge Meyer said this was the most difficult case she's ever had to handle.

She consoled Watkins' family members, asking them to take their father's teachings and hold them close. But she also said that she was ultimately bound by the law and had to consider all the factors in the case.

She said she took into consideration that Haq had been abused as a child and suffers further psychological abuse in her marriage, leading to mental health issues.

Judge Meyer added that she had never seen "more prejudgment atonement" from a defendant.

"I know you may not believe her," Meyer told Watkins' family members. "I do think she's remorseful."

"Nobody in this courtroom, myself included, is going to walk out of this room happy," Meyer said before handing down the four-year sentence, adding that all she was there to do was bring closure.

"There is no justice, but there is the law."