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A Nederland man that pleaded guilty to pushing a woman out of a moving vehicle leading to her death was sentenced this week.

Lonnie Rodgers, 51, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on the charge of manslaughter in Judge John Stevens’ criminal district court Wednesday.

Rodgers was set for trial in July in connection to the death of Madison Martinez, 27, but opted to make the guilty plea just before a jury was selected, according to information from the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.

On Oct. 15, 2021 Madison Martinez, 27, was in the company of Rogers at the Fuel depot in the 3700 block of Lake Arthur Drive. Surveillance video showed a Dodge truck leave the parking lot quickly and Martinez either coming out of or off the driver side of the truck and onto the roadway.

Martinez was located in the westbound lane at the intersection of Lake Arthur Drive and Ninth Avenue. She had a head injury and was brought to Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth in Beaumont where she died the next day.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Rogers and he turned himself in to law enforcement.

According to court information, Rodgers had two previous felony convictions.

Previous reporting:

Nederland man pleads guilty in the death of a woman thrown from a truck

Document details final moments before fatal injury to woman pushed from truck & killed in Port Arthur

Father speaks on bond reduction for suspect in daughter’s death; “I had so much anger”

Nederland man arrested for manslaughter after woman killed in Port Arthur