COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – The office of South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson commented Friday on the year-long prison sentence for a man convicted of killing a University of South Carolina student earlier this year.
In a statement provided to WIS, a spokesperson for Wilson’s office said Rosali Fernandez-Cruz’s sentence was “decided by a judge” after he pleaded guilty to hit-and-run resulting in death on Aug. 11.
Wilson’s office, which took over prosecuting the case after Fernandez-Cruz’s arrest, also clarified that there was no plea deal.
The charge was linked to an April crash that killed 21-year-old Nate Baker at the intersection of Blossom and Assembly streets in Columbia. Fernandez-Cruz was driving a truck that hit Baker while the latter was on his motorcycle.
Originally from Virginia, Baker was a junior business major at USC at the time of his death.
Fernandez-Cruz faced three traffic-related charges in the crash, all of which were dismissed after the guilty plea.
“The other three charges that were dismissed were traffic violations that would not have changed the sentence, but the judge was aware of those charges in deciding how much time Fernandez-Cruz would receive,” the attorney general’s office said.
Following the plea, a judge sentenced Fernandez-Cruz to a year in prison with credit for 131 days served. Records from the South Carolina Department of Corrections show he is scheduled to be released in March 2026.
Wilson’s office said in its statement that Baker’s family was included in the resolution of the plea and left sentencing up to the court. The statement goes on to say the family requested the case “not be politicized and there be no more publicity,” which led to a decision by the attorney general’s office not to send a news release on the plea and sentence.
The case initially gained national attention when authorities identified Fernandez-Cruz as an undocumented migrant from El Salvador who entered the country as a minor in 2016. He was also wanted by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the time of his arrest for failing to appear in court in 2018.
Wilson’s office said Friday that Fernandez-Cruz will be deported back to El Salvador upon his release from prison. Records show Fernandez-Cruz has been jailed at Kirkland Correctional Institution since Aug. 14.
FULL ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE STATEMENT
Rosali Fernandez-Cruz pleaded guilty to hit-and-run resulting in death and was sentenced to one year in prison. He will be deported back to El Salvador upon release.
The sentence was decided by a judge. The other three charges that were dismissed were traffic violations that would not have changed the sentence, but the judge was aware of those charges in deciding how much time Fernandez-Cruz would receive.
The victim’s family was included in the resolution of the plea, including leaving sentencing up to the court. The family also requested that this tragedy not be politicized and there be no more publicity, so our office followed their wishes and did not send out a news release on the plea and sentence.
BAKER FAMILY STATEMENT
Wilson’s office also provided the following statement on behalf of Baker’s family regarding the case:
Nate was our beloved son, and we miss him every single day. He was a kind, compassionate, and generous soul who lifted up everyone around him.
We decided as a family to trust the judicial system to handle the punishment in this case. We were given every opportunity and participated in the ways we thought were best for our family. We are aware of the sentence, accepting it and moving forward to focus on what is next – healing. It is what Nate would have wanted, and we encourage others to do the same. No matter the sentence, nothing can bring Nate back. There is no outcome in court that can fill the space he left in our lives.
Honoring Nate as we continue to heal remains our priority – for our family, friends, and everyone who loves Nate. Through The NATE Foundation (Never Another Tragic Ending), we are working to bring hope and light to others facing the darkness of grief- especially young people and communities reeling from sudden tragedy. This is how we carry Nate’s spirit forward.
We ask that the media and public respect our family’s privacy and only share Nate’s name in ways that support hope and healing. Our strength during this difficult time is a reflection of Nate’s spirit, and we invite others to join us in turning grief into lasting impact.
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