A Palmdale man was found guilty Friday for the death of a 2-year-old girl in a car crash that ended a police pursuit two years ago.
A jury found Marvin Travon Hicks, 47, guilty of second-degree murder in the 2012 case, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Hicks was driving away from police at more than 100 mph after he ran five red lights on Sierra Highway in Lancaster, when he struck a car driven by the mother of toddler Madison Ruano, officials said.
Court testimony revealed that he was under the influence of alcohol and PCP at the time, officials said.
Ruano had been called a "miracle" child after being born at 25 weeks. She died at the hospital after the crash, and her mother was hospitalized.
After the 2012 incident, a fundraising website and Facebook page emerged in honor of the 2-year-old, and people left balloons and stuffed animals at the intersection where she was killed.
Hicks was found guilty in April of four other counts, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury, but the jury did not reach a verdict on the murder count, the statement said.
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Hicks faces 21 years to life in state prison. A sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 10.
