NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) — The suspect in a nearly fatal hit-and-run faced the 15-year-old teen he struck when both appeared in court, Thursday.
Thirty-three-year-old Simion Boykins was allegedly driving with a suspended license along Northwest 79th Street and 22nd Avenue when he struck Javier Valdes, a 15-year-old walking to school, in February.
Valdes was left critically injured after police said Boykins hit him and took off. He has since recovered, but now, he demands justice. "’Honestly, I just think he was scared, so that’s probably why he left me, but you know, he did the crime, so he has to do the time."
Valdes’ grandmother, Ruth Pasarell, hopes justice will be served. "I hope that this time, this person gets the sentence that he deserves because he cannot go around doing criminal defenses without doing any time," said his grandmother. "He left my grandson like a dog on the side of the road, and he should pay the consequences."
Boykins turned himself in to Miami-Dade Police and was released after posting $15,000 bond. He was released from jail on bond and faces hit-and-run related charges.
He is set to return to court in May.