More than a year after 39-year-old Juan Lopez was fatally struck while crossing Cliff Drive, the man accused of leaving the scene has pleaded no contest in Santa Barbara County Superior Court — as Lopez’s family continues their wrongful death lawsuit, now including the City of Santa Barbara as a defendant.
On Monday, November 3, 57-year-old Brock Alexander Hoffman entered an open plea to one felony count of leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death or serious permanent injury. He also admitted to a special allegation that the offense “involved great violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm, or other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness,” according to court documents.
Hoffman is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16 in Judge Stephen Foley’s courtroom. He remains out of custody. The maximum sentence he faces is four years in state prison, according to Deputy District Attorney Michelle Mossembekker, who is prosecuting the case…