Plea and Sentencing
Gerson Danilo Ayala-Rodriguez, a 21-year-old motorcyclist, was sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide in the tragic death of Georgia State Trooper Jimmy Cenescar. The sentencing took place on Wednesday, following Ayala-Rodriguez’s admission of guilt in connection with the fatal incident that occurred during a high-speed chase in January.
Fatal High-Speed Chase
The deadly chase unfolded on January 28 when Trooper Cenescar, 28, attempted to stop Ayala-Rodriguez for a traffic violation on Interstate 85 in Suwanee, a suburb north of Atlanta. Ayala-Rodriguez, who was driving without a license, insurance, or registration, fled the scene, prompting Cenescar to pursue him. During the chase, Ayala-Rodriguez sped through two lanes of traffic, reaching a dangerous speed of 140 miles per hour.
As Cenescar attempted to evade other vehicles on the highway, he lost control of his patrol car, veering off the roadway and crashing into trees and drainage rocks after striking an embankment. The impact of the crash resulted in the trooper’s death.
Additional Charges and Convictions
In addition to the vehicular homicide charge, Ayala-Rodriguez was convicted of several misdemeanor charges, including reckless driving, speeding, driving without a license, operating a vehicle without insurance, and operating an unregistered vehicle. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Ayala-Rodriguez faced two counts each for the latter three charges.
Statement from the District Attorney
Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson issued a statement following the sentencing, emphasizing the tragic loss of Trooper Cenescar due to Ayala-Rodriguez’s reckless actions. “We tragically lost a young state trooper as a result of the defendant’s reckless driving,” Austin-Gatson said. “Ultimately, the defendant accepted responsibility for his actions in this, although it cannot bring back Trooper Cenescar. We hope this serves as a message to drivers and motorcyclists to drive within the safe bounds of the law.”
