Bradenton teen pleads no contest to charges in 2014 vehicular homicides

MANATEE -- A Bradenton teenager charged with running a red light in a stolen sports utility vehicle and then crashing it into a car, killing two women, pleaded no contest Thursday to three felony charges.

Emerson Herrera, 17, was charged with two counts of first-degree vehicular homicide and grand theft auto for the Nov. 20, 2014, crash at the intersection of 26th Street West and 53rd Avenue West that killed Gabriella "Gigi" Longpré , 22, of Bradenton, and Jessica Costanzo, 23, of Venice.

Herrera's sentencing hearing is set for 9 a.m. Feb. 5. Judge Deno Economou will determine Herrera's fate. The teen could face up to 65 years in prison.

Christopher M. Pratt, Herrera's attorney, entered the plea. On the left side of the courtoom sat the victims' families, and behind a standing Herrera sat members of his family.

"Do you understand what your attorney said? That you're entering pleas of no contest to three felonies?" Economou asked Herrera, adding the two counts of vehicular homicide each carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in state prison.

Herrera's third charge, grand theft auto, carries up to five years in state prison.

Longpré's mother, Margharita Komyati, sat in the second row with her head bent forward. Her shoulders shook.

"You understand it's entirely up to me as to what sentence you should receive?" Economou asked Herrera. "Do you understand that?"

After the hearing, Réne Longpré , father of one of the fatalities, walked out of the courthouse with his ex-wife, Margharita Komyati, and others.

"I have, on a daily basis, I have an angel on both shoulders that get me through each day," the 57-year-old Longpré said. "Both those girls were angels and I think that they guide me and keep me in a better place and allow me to go on."

The Sarasota resident said he has "a spiritual background with the Lord."

"So many people want to blame God and He's not that type," Longpré said. "He didn't do this. ... He didn't do this."

Longpré opened his suit jacket slightly, revealing a folded paper tucked in a pocket. It contained a statement Longpré said he's already written -- words he prepared to say to Herrera at the sentencing in a few months.

"I've got some very harsh things, unfortunately, that I need to share with Emerson and tell him from my point of view how I feel," he said.

Herrera's mother, Romelia Miranda, 46, and his sister, Elizabeth Miranda, 28, said they put themselves in the victims' families' shoes.

"My mom and I, we're deeply sorry for their loss, but at the same time, we think about it ... We're losing somebody, too," Elizabeth Miranda said. "He didn't mean for this to happen. Yes, he's young and immature. He went and stole a car, but he never meant to kill somebody, so it's really hard. ... It's really hard."

Romelia Miranda said she feels terrible about what happened.

"This hurts a lot from both sides -- from the side of my son, and the side of the girls who died," Romelia said in Spanish, adding she sends her condolences to the victims' families. "As a mother, I know they're (victims' families) suffering and I'm so sorry -- with all my heart."

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 5:58 PM with the headline "Bradenton teen pleads no contest to charges in 2014 vehicular homicides ."