Drunk Driver Who Killed Officer Noah Leotta Receives Maximum Sentence

ROCKVILLE, MD — A repeat drunk driver whose car hit and killed Montgomery County Police Officer Noah Leotta last year on Rockville Pike was sentenced Thursday to serve 10 years in prison for manslaughter.

Luis Gustavo Reluzco, 47, of Olney, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter by motor vehicle in Leotta’s death. Reluzco had been arrested twice before for drunk driving and has a previous conviction for drug possession.

Leotta, 24, was hit Dec. 3, 2015, by Reluzco's car on Rockville Pike; he died a week later. The officer was working as part of a holiday task force fighting drunk driving at the time of the fatal accident. Prosecutors say Reluzco struck Leotta after a night that included heavy drinking at the Hooters restaurant in Rockville, which has since closed.

John Roth, attorney for Reluzco, said his client’s actions were grossly negligent and he had no intent to kill anyone, WTOP reports.

Prosecutor Peter Feeney told the judge that Reluzco should be jailed for the maximum of 10 years because he “completely obliterated” when his vehicle struck Leotta. Reluzco had also smoked marijuana and took Xanax before drinking at Hooters, authorities said.

The slain officer’s parents, Rich Leotta and Marcia Goldman, spoke at a February news conference to urge passage of a bill named for their son that requries ignition interlocks.

“My dreams are gone, I can’t get him back…I don’t want my son forgotten,” Rich Leotta said.

The couple joined state delegates and representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in urging lawmakers to expand mandatory ignition interlocks to all drunken driving offenders in Maryland. The law in Noah’s name will help prevent such deaths in the future, state leaders said in May when Gov. Larry Hogan was joined by police officers, lawmakers and Leotta’s family as the governor signed SB 945, also known as Noah’s Law.

The General Assembly unanimously passed ‪the law on April 11 and it will go into effect on Oct. 1.

SEE ALSO:

• Drunk Driver Pleads Guilty in Montgomery Officer's Death
• Officer’s Funeral: Procession Images, Video
• Police Chief Denounces ‘Drunk Driver,’ State’s Weak Laws
• Dram Shop Law Needed to Deter Drunk Drivers: Leggett
• Slain Officer’s Parents Lobby for ‘Noah’s Law’

“Their son, Montgomery County Police Officer Noah Leotta, was killed in the line of duty as the result of a drunk driver,” Hogan said. “And thanks in large part to his family’s tireless efforts, today we are signing Noah’s Law, which will require ignition interlock devices for anyone convicted of drunk driving in Maryland. I’m very proud to have supported this bill.”

Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger in January denounced the drunk-driving suspect in the officer’s death, along with what he called Maryland’s weak laws that do little to punish offenders.
“(Leotta) was killed by a man who decided to smoke some dope, drink for four hours and get behind the wheel of a car,” Manger said. “This officer was killed serving the public, trying to prevent the exact crime that killed him.”

"With this legislation, Officer Leotta will save hundreds of lives. We all stand behind Noah's Law," said Manger said in May.

»Photo of Officer Noah Leotta courtesy of Montgomery County Police