Trenton’s Law aims to increase the consequences for repeat offenses of vehicular homicide, following the tragic death of Stewart, who was struck by a driver with a prior prison record.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two years following the incident that claimed Trenton Stewart’s life, a memorial stands at the crash site, and his legacy will now be enshrined in Florida legislation.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has enacted Trenton’s Law, named in honor of the Creekside High School graduate, who lost his life in a 2023 crash on Old St. Augustine Road.
Stewart was killed by a wrong-way driver who’d already served time for a different vehicular homicide.
Trenton’s Law doubles the maximum sentence for repeat offenders.
“You’d like to think that there’s not going to be a need for Trenton’s Law very often, but unfortunately, there will be a need,” said Mandi Stewart, Trenton’s mom.
In May of 2023, Mandi and Robert Stewart found out their son, Trenton, was hit and killed by a wrong way driver going more than 100 miles per hour on Old St. Augustine Road.
A few days later, they learned that driver, Ariel Monteagudo, had already spent 10 years behind bars for a vehicular homicide for a crash that killed 15-year-old Christina Ramos.
“We thought that is was truly an accident, even to the point of worrying about the person who was in the other car, and then to realize it was probably the worst it could be,” said Robert Stewart.
The Stewarts got in touch with Ramos’s Aunt, Margarita Oxenreider, who said she didn’t even know Monteagudo was out of prison.
“I couldn’t believe it and I don’t even know why he was out,” said Oxenreider. “They let him out and he’s going to do it all over again. It’s like he hasn’t learned from the first mistake.”
The Stewarts were even more surprised to learn Florida laws didn’t have any increased penalties for repeat offenders of vehicular homicide.
“Losing him was the hardest part, but then learning you only have the opportunity to fight for up to 15 years, and that includes probation, was even more challenging for us,” said Mandi Stewart.
Monteagudo was ultimately sentenced to 12 years, so Stewart’s parents went to work to change the law before the same thing happened to anyone else.
They enlisted the help of State Representative Kim Kendall from St. Johns County to draft a bill.
“Everybody unanimously agreed,” said Kendall. “They all said, ‘This was just an area we missed.’ Have some positive results of a horrific situation, and this was just one of those things. We’re very thrilled to get that over the finish line.”
Trenton’s Law will make repeat offenses of vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter 1st degree felonies, carrying up to 30 years behind bars.
“Hopefully, like we said, it’s never used,” said Robert Stewart. “If it is, he’s there, in name, to make sure people are held accountable.”
The law takes effect in October.
It won’t impact Monteagudo’s time in prison since he was already sentenced before the law took effect, but his driver’s license is revoked for life.
