Construction workers refuse to scrutinize immigrants before the death of Pinellas Deputy Bureau

A pair of immigrants who worked at a state-funded construction site said a Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy had been eloped by a front-end loader. We

Court records show that Apex Michael Hartwick was killed and after Juan Molina Sales was accused of fleeing the scene of his death.

These are one of the details of the transcription of pretrial testimony filed this week in the case of Molina-Salles, 34, a Honduras immigrant facing trial next month. Molina-Salles was illegally in the country.

The transcript became public day after Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the joint venture of construction company Archer Western Moya Group. The governor said the company overseen by his administration is a victim of an interstate fraud ring that creates false identifications to pass citizenship verification screenings.

In their testimony, workers described the rudimentary employment process that did not in-depth look into their identity.

Alan Gomez Zelaya and his brother-in-law, Douglas Valadalaras, said they both applied for a job with Archer Western after seeing signs of employment.

Valladaras said when he applied, he was asked to show his ID and Social Security documents. He provided documents belonging to someone else, he said. When asked about his experiences with his previous experience, Gomez Zelaya said he received practical training from Archer Western on how to operate heavy machinery.

Both admitted in deposition that they illegally came to the United States from Honduras.

Vice President Hartwick died on the night of September 22, 2022 at a construction site on Interstate 275 near Roosevelt Boulevard. He left the police car and stood near the shoulder of the road as Morina Sales, driving a front-end loader, approached at 20 mph.

Prosecutors testified that Hartwick suffered a shattered injury to his torso and spine. His death would have happened soon, according to doctors.

According to court records, Molina-Salles did not realize he had attacked his agent. His colleagues testified that when they saw the aide lying motionlessly on the ground in front of them, they were on a truck following about 50 feet behind the loader. Valladaras and Gomez Zelaya said the area was dark and it was difficult to see the flashing light above the lieutenant’s patrol cruiser.

“I just went to see him,” Gomez Zelaya testified. “He was lying. I saw him not moving and I called 911.”

When his supervisor summoned help, Gomez Zelaya said he had called Molina Sales, who had gone far further. He told him there was a deputy dead on the road.

“What did he call it – I think he was in shock,” Gomez Zelaya testified.

The incident occurred Thursday night. The following Sunday, Gomez Zelaya said his supervisor would call him to tell him that he had no further work. On Monday, my boss gave him a message.

“They told me in the office they were requesting a copy of my Social Security to make sure it was mine and make sure the documents were mine.” Gomez Zelaya testified. “If I presented all the documents, I could go back to work and if I didn’t present anything like that, I would not have employment.”

“And when you first applied, did they not ask you for that document?” he was asked.

“no.”

Similarly, Valladaras said he was told to provide additional documents after the incident.

“So we’ve never returned,” he said.

Gomez Zelaya and Valladaras have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate as witnesses against Molina-Salles to be accused in federal court of using a Social Security number that did not belong to them to work in the United States. was among 14 workers at the scene charged in federal court. His state court case.

Molina-Salles also faces another federal incident related to the use of false identity. He worked for Archer Western for several months under alias Victor Vazquez.

His colleagues said they knew him by the nicknames “Goldit” and “Panda.”

They never saw him again after the incident. In a parking lot about a quarter mile from the scene, another worker took a Molina-Salles construction vest and helmet and hid it when he escaped on foot, investigators said. Deputies found him a few hours later, and were covered in mud and wet, hiding in a brush. According to sheriff’s officials, his use of false names hampered early search efforts.

Both of his colleagues said they have made no promises of leniency in federal lawsuits in exchange for cooperation with the state. Federal court records show that both postponed their ruling hearing until the Molina-Salles case was completed. Both have been identified in the records as important witnesses in his case.

A few months before the accident, Gomez Zelaya said he had applied for asylum. A year later he received his work permit and Social Security number. It was not long after that he was arrested on federal charges.

“I know that the situation in this country is not good, working illegally as I did,” Gomez Zelaya testified.

It is unclear how much the ju judge will hear about the immigration aspects of the Molina-Salles case.

During a regular court hearing on Wednesday, assistant public advocate Maria Deliberato repeatedly said that Morina Sales committed the crime in order to plead guilty in exchange for a 10-year sentence. State prosecutors say it’s not high enough, and the counter offers have been in over 20 years. The maximum penalty is 30 years.

At the end of Wednesday’s hearing, the defense asked Circuit Judge Pinellas Pasco, Judge Pat Syracusa, if he would accept the proposed 10-year sentence. The judge declined, saying he had not yet seen all the evidence or heard the testimony.

“I assume he is still innocent,” Syracuse said. “So I can’t really say what I’m going to do now.”

The trial is scheduled to begin in early March.

Times staff writer Emily Mahony contributed to this report.