Teen pleads guilty to wild 2015 expressway chase that left one state trooper wounded
After a day trying to decide what to do, Giovanny Cotto pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a raft of related charges. Sentencing is Sept. 12.
A North Philadelphia teenager — charged with leading state troopers on a wild chase along the Schuylkill and Vine Street Expressways that ended with a trooper shot, and the teen's car and a school bus ablaze after they crashed — pleaded guilty Wednesday to a long list of charges that could put him in prison for the rest of his life.
Giovanny Cotto, 18, spent most of Wednesday with his lawyer trying to decide whether to go to trial or plead guilty.
Finally, at 3 p.m., Cotto chose the latter, pleading guilty in a barely audible voice to three counts of attempted murder involving three troopers, three counts of aggravated assault, causing a catastrophe, carrying an unlicensed firearm, and reckless endangerment.
Behind Cotto in the gallery were about 10 state troopers and officials – including the three who were the victims in the Nov. 24, 2015, incident – and an equal number of Cotto's relatives.
The plea was "open" – there was no agreement with the District Attorney's Office on a sentence – and Common Pleas Court Judge Roxanne Covington warned Cotto that his maximum prison term is 146 years. There was also no answer to what may have led to the chase and confrontation, although police at the time said Cotto had been released that June from juvenile detention for heroin possession.
Cotto's actual sentence will almost certainly be less, and defense attorney Tobias Hamal Brown asked for a presentence investigation and a mental-health evaluation.
Covington set sentencing for Sept. 12.
Assistant District Attorney Erin Boyle said Cotto was driving on I-76 in a white Toyota Camry, with three passengers, when State Trooper Timothy Jeter stopped him at University Avenue at 8:55 a.m. on Nov. 24, 2015, because the car had an expired registration.
Jeter told Cotto the car would have to be towed and ordered all four teens out of the car. Moments later, Jeter was joined by Trooper Patrick Casey to provide backup while waiting for the tow truck.
But when the tow truck arrived, Boyle continued, Cotto jumped back in his car and sped off with the troopers following. As the pursuit reached the intersection with the Vine Street Expressway, Casey tried to box in Cotto with his cruiser.
Instead, Cotto rammed the side of the trooper's vehicle, disabling it, then drove off and crashed into a school bus, getting trapped underneath.
While still in the Camry, Cotto drew a pistol and fired at Casey, hitting the trooper in the shoulder. Boyle said the bullet was removed during surgery.
Boyle said Cotto then tried to run and jumped the expressway's median barrier, but was caught and arrested. The Camry caught fire, which spread to the school bus, destroying both vehicles, and the fire jammed the expressway until it could be extinguished.
Boyle said Cotto was charged with attempted murder causing serious bodily injury for shooting and wounding Casey. The other charges involved endangering Jeter and Trooper William Evans.
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