Driver Sentenced In Prince George's Mom's Death

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — A judge has sentenced the man convicted of killing a mother who was hit by his vehicle while waiting for a bus.

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson announced Wednesday that 25-year-old Warren Leonard has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspending all but eight years, followed by five years of supervised probation, following his conviction for fleeing and eluding police that resulted in the death of 33-year-old Esmerelda Carolina Montoya Perez.

On Feb. 28, 2025, Leonard fled a traffic stop in Hyattsville after initially stopping for police. Leonard, who did not have a valid driver’s license, drove at speeds of up to 90 mph and used the shoulder to pass slower traffic. Leonard hit and killed Montoya Perez, who was waiting for a bus, Jackson said in her statement.

Montoya Perez was survived by her husband and two daughters.

“The loss of Ms. Montoya Perez is a tragic reminder of the consequences that can follow when a driver chooses to flee a traffic stop,” Jackson said. “The defendant’s decision put others in danger, with devastating consequences for Ms. Perez and her family. This sentence holds him accountable for that decision, and I am grateful to the prosecutors and law enforcement partners who worked to pursue justice for Ms. Montoya Perez and her loved ones.”