James Robert Bagley III, 51, was struck by a vehicle shortly before 3 a.m. on August 2 in Sylva, North Carolina, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver fled the scene, according to law enforcement reports.
On August 7, the Sylva Police Department announced the arrest of Mauricio Josue Alberto Sarmiento, from Honduras, and charged him with felony hit-and-run resulting in death, as well as driving with a revoked license, exceeding safe speed, failure to reduce speed, and driving without liability insurance.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer with the Jackson County Jail the same day of the arrest, requesting notification before Sarmiento's release. Sarmiento entered the United States illegally as an unaccompanied minor in October 2021 through Texas and was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol, according to ICE.