Former Cop Gets 20 Years for Intoxication Manslaughter

A former Fort Worth police officer received the maximum prison sentence Thursday for a drunken-driving crash that killed a 27-year-old mother.

Sonia Baker died in December when Jesus Cisneros, a former undercover narcotics officer, hit her in a city-issued sport utility vehicle.

The jury took about an hour to decide the 20-year sentence Thursday afternoon after Cisneros changed his plea to guilty Thursday morning.

It came after several days of testimony, including evidence that Cisneros had been drinking heavily and was driving his city-issued vehicle at 76 mph at the time of the crash.

"I didn't intend to cause any harm," he told the jury. "That night, I did not intend to use my vehicle as a weapon. But it still happened, and I killed somebody by my actions, and I take full responsibility for that."

The sentencing phase of the trial included emotional testimony to the jury from families of the victim and the defendant.

The defendant's wife and siblings asked for probation.

"I've seen the remorse," said Mario Cisneros, his brother. "I've seen the guilt. I've seen the sorrow."

After the verdict, Baker’s mother, Stella Lopez, spoke directly to Jesus Cisneros.

"Twenty years is nothing to me," she said. "Our family has a lifetime sentence without our daughter."

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Previous Coverage:

• Testimony: Alcohol Caused Fatal Officer-Involved Wreck
• Cross Marks Spot Where Fort Worth Mother Died
• Bar Overserved FWPD Officer Involved in Fatal Crash: Lawsuit
• Officer Was Drinking on Duty Before Fatal Crash: Inquiry
• FW Cop in Fatal Wreck Had Checkered Record
• Officer Doubled Legal Speed Limit at Time of Fatal Crash: Police
• Cop Involved in Fatal Accident Was Drunk: Police
• Mother Dies In Officer-Involved Collision