Sentenced reduced in moped death

A woman involved in a July 4 traffic accident that killed a moped rider received a reduced sentence in an appeal Wednesday.

Nora Quezada, who drove without a Virginia driver’s license, received a 180-day jail sentence, the maximum penalty, in August.
In that hearing, Judge William D. Heatwole cited the serious nature of the incident and that Quezada was in the United States illegally.

Quezada served 11 days in jail, was freed pending appeal, and received no additional jail time Wednesday from Judge Humes J. Franklin. She was ordered to pay a $100 fine and warned by the judge that being caught driving again could mean a one-year jail sentence.

Public defender James Dungan said the defendant still does not have a license and “doesn’t think she could get one.”

Quezada was heading north on North Delphine Avenue when a 2004 Yamaha moped driven by James Michael Baber, 50, turned south on North Delphine from Sixth Street and into the path of her 2000 Ford Windstar, at about 10 p.m. July 4, Waynesboro police said.

Baber died from his injuries at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville

Quezada, who police report was driving 30 mph in a 35-mph zone, was not charged with any additional offenses related to the accident.

Relatives of James Baber expressed shock and resignation after the appeal hearing.

“I’m just stunned right now … it’s just not right,” said daughter Melissa Baber, of Roanoke. “She’s in the country illegally.”

The man’s ex-wife, Beth Scott, saw the outcome differently.

“At least we got 11 days,” she said, adding that Americans would hope for fair treatment when traveling abroad as well.

After reports of the incident appeared in local newspapers citing head injuries in Baber’s death, the Waynesboro City Council passed a law requiring moped riders to wear helmets.