Judge rescinds plea deal in 2013 tour bus crash case

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – A Southern California judge has rescinded a plea agreement offered to a man who drove a tour bus that crashed in 2013, killing eight people.

The court originally agreed to let Norberto Perez, 56, of Tijuana plead guilty to eight counts of vehicular manslaughter in exchange for felony probation and suspended six-year prison term, said San Bernardino Chief Deputy District Attorney Simon Umscheid. The maximum sentence for his charges would be 15 years in state prison.

Umscheid told The San Bernardino Sun (http://bit.ly/2b0kbsW ) that his office did not agree with the plea deal.

But Judge Harold T. Wilson declined to accept the deal on Monday, saying Perez’ probation report came back with new information that changed his mind. He would not say what that information was.

Perez’ wife said she doesn’t understand how the judge can go back on his word.

Perez is scheduled to return to court Sept. 9. Prosecutors say he should have noticed problems with the brakes during his pre-trip inspection.

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Information from: The Sun, http://www.sbsun.com