KINGMAN – A Dolan Springs man charged in an alcohol-involved traffic accident that killed two teenagers and severely injured another, rolled the dice in early June when he rejected a plea agreement mandating a 25-year prison sentence. Brock Hill, 28, instead took his case to trial, and he lost his gamble for a better outcome when Judge Billy Sipe ordered a 40.25-year prison term during a Tuesday sentencing hearing in Kingman.

Hill was convicted in July of two counts of negligent homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, separate drunk driving offenses, and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death. Defense Attorney George Hibbeler conceded that Hill was impaired when the pickup truck he was driving struck a quad occupied by 3 teenagers who motored to Dolan Springs to buy ice cream for one of their mother’s birthday parties in July 2020.

Jocelyn Escamilla, Las Vegas, and Evelyn Arias, Dolan Springs, both 13, were killed. A 19-year-old female family member suffered life-long debilitating injuries and her sister has assumed guardianship of her sibling and been granted custody to care for her child.

“I would just like to express my deepest sympathies and apologize to the family. This was never intended. I’m not a bad person. I’m a family man,” said Hill, a father of two girls with another daughter on the way. “I am not a monster and if I could do anything in the world to bring them back, I would give my own life to do it.”

Deputy Mohave County Attorney Rod Albright countered that Hill became a dangerous criminal when he made poor decisions.

“When he was driving drunk and speeding, he did become a monster,” Albright told Judge Sipe. “This is the ultimate that can happen when you drive drunk. You kill innocent people and you injure innocent people.”

The Court, in its sentencing contemplation, made note of Hill’s 2017 conviction for an undetailed heroin offense in Pennsylvania. Judge Sipe said a series of citations for speeding and other traffic infractions from 2013 and 2014 were troubling.

“It appears he has a history of really not respecting other people on the roadway by driving in a careless manner and at an excess speed,” Sipe said.

Dave Hawkins