A tennis coach pleaded guilty Aug. 30 to involuntary manslaughter and hit and run in the death of Leilani Magno, a 2018 graduate of Eastlake High School.
George Joseph Espinoza, 47, of Chula Vista, faces up to five years in state prison, according to Deputy District Attorney Vincent Chen.
A Chula Vista Superior Court judge set sentencing for Nov. 16. Espinoza recently posted $100,000 bond and he remains free.
Magno, 17, was jogging down a sidewalk on Lane Avenue around 8:10 pm. in the Eastlake neighborhood on July 8 when Espinoza drove his large white pickup onto the sidewalk and struck her. She suffered fatal injuries and he drove off.
She graduated in June and had plans to study medicine. Hundreds attended her celebration of life memorial in Bonita on July 17. She would have turned 18 on July 25. Her parents are Adrian Magno and Vanessa Rico.
Espinoza was arrested July 17 by sheriff’s deputies at a courthouse.
