Minnesota man charged after '19 fatal crash withdraws guilty plea after judge rejects deal

A Minnesota man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection to a 2019 fatal crash in Watertown has withdrawn his plea after the judge in the case rejected the plea agreement.

Antonio Otero, 35, of Lakeville, Minn., was initially charged with felony vehicular homicide and felony manslaughter as well as misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and possession of marijuana. The charges were in connection to a wreck on Sept. 5 on U.S. Highway 212 in which Roberta Anderson, 59, of Marvin died.

More: Minnesota man pleads guilty to manslaughter in connection to 2019 fatal crash in Watertown

Otero had pleaded guilty to felony second-degree manslaughter in March as part of an agreement that stipulated a sentence of up to six years in prison.

Sentencing was expected earlier this month, but Judge Robert Spears rejected the plea agreement after completion of the pre-sentence investigation, according to court documents. Once that plea agreement was rejected, Otero withdrew his guilty plea. A Dec. 12-16 jury trial has now been set.

Anderson was driving a Ford Explorer and was crossing U.S. Highway 212 from 35th Street Circle when she was hit by Otero, who was driving a westbound Mercury Mountaineer, according information from law enforcement issued after the wreck. Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene.

More: Marvin woman dies in accident on 212

Otero and a passenger were taken by ambulance to Prairie Lakes Healthcare System with serious injuries that were not life-threatening.

Second-degree manslaughter, which is defined as the reckless killing of another person, is a felony with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Minnesota man withdraws plea in case involving 2019 fatal crash