Sherman Broughton sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee County Judge sentenced  23-year-old Sherman Broughton to two-and-a-half years in prison and three years of extend supervision for a hit-and-run crash that killed Javier Ortiz near 19th and Mitchell on September 1st.

Broughton is one of two people involved in the fatal hit-and-run crash.

24-year-old Reina Rivera was sentenced to two years of probation and 250 hours of community service. Rivera is accused of helping Broughton hide the vehicle after the crash.

Officials say Ortiz was riding a motorcycle eastbound on Mitchell St. when a Cadillac Seville driven by Broughton struck him. A Medical Examiner’s Report concluded Ortiz died from blunt force trauma injuries to the head.

According to a criminal complaint in the case, officials obtained surveillance video from a business in the area that captured the crash. The complaint says the video indicates the motorcycle driven by Ortiz appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed, before the brakes were applied and the bike was laid down on its side before traveling through the intersection near Mitchell St. and S. 19th Street.

The criminal complaint indicates that officials spoke with Rivera’s sister, who witnessed the crash and saw the striking vehicle flee the scene. Rivera later told her sister that it was her vehicle that had been involved in the crash — a 1992 tan Cadillac Seville. Rivera was not in the vehicle when it struck Ortiz.

The complaint indicates Broughton is Rivera’s boyfriend, and was driving the Cadillac Seville at the time of the crash. He told officials he fled the scene because he does not have a license, and the Cadillac Seville did not have license plates on it, according to the complaint.

The complaint states the two hid the Cadillac Seville in a friend’s garage on Milwaukee’s north side.

Reina told officials once she realized it was her car that struck Ortiz, the two decided Broughton would turn himself in. Broughton did not turn himself in, but did call an attorney.

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