On February 15, 2017, a jury convicted Joselito Meza of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and an enhancement for fleeing the scene of a crash causing death.

Meza was convicted on all counts, including numerous other DUI and injury-related charges.

Following a night of drinking, Miguel Aldaco, a friend of the defendant, was killed in the early morning of February 1, 2015, on the median of Buena Vista Road.

The two engaged in a fist fight on Buena Vista Road before Meza fled the area with the victim's clothes and cell phone. While Aldaco was standing on the median, Meza turned his vehicle at Aldaco, striking and killing him. Meza then fled the scene to a nearby parking lot and called 911 reporting a fabricated car-jacking.

"These were some of the most unusual circumstances we have seen in a vehicular homicide case," District Attorney Lisa Green said. "The Bakersfield Police Department Officers and Detectives that investigated, and pieced the crime together are to be commended for their exceptional work."

Meza faces a sentence of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on March 16, 2017.