Bouncer Who Punched Patron In Front Of Hit & Run Driver Sentenced

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA- An Arleta man who worked as a bouncer at a North Hollywood bar pleaded no contest Thursday to involuntary manslaughter for punching a man who landed in the street, where he was struck and killed by a car.

Ernest Shaun Reyes, 35, is facing 180 days in county jail, 240 hours of community labor and three years probation, with sentencing set for Jan. 17 at the Van Nuys courthouse, according to Deputy District Attorney Nathan Bartos.

Reyes was initially charged with murder in the Dec. 15, 2016, death of 47-year-old Wilfredo Rodriguez, but the murder charge is expected to be dismissed as a result of Reyes' plea.

Rodriguez was intoxicated at the time of the struggle with the bouncer and fell into the street in the 6300 block of Lankershim Boulevard, where he was struck by a dark-colored sedan that did not stop, police said.

Jorge McDonald Jr., 33, has been charged with a felony count of hit- and-run driving resulting in death in connection with the deadly crash, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. He is due in a Van Nuys courtroom Dec. 21 for a pretrial hearing.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock