Damascus Driver Sentenced for Killing Man With Car

The Damascus driver who ran down a man with his car was sentenced to 55 years in prison, though the judge suspended 35 years of the sentence, the State’s Attorney’s office announced in a news release.

Fernando J. Valenzuela, 21, pleaded guilty to depraved heart murder and first-degree assault for the death of Billie Jay Genies, 35. 

According to records filed in court, the chain of events began in December when Genies and his brother took a ride with Valenzuela from to Gaithersburg from a 7-Eleven in Damascus. 

But once in Gaithersburg, the Genies brothers allegedly got out of the car and walked off without paying for the ride, spurring Valenzuela’s ire, according to what was described in a statement of charges.

Valenzuela ran down and killed Billie Jay Genies with his car near 211 W. Diamond Ave., where he also struck the brother, according to records filed in court.

Depraved heart murder is the reckless action and wonton disregard for human life that a defendant takes or has towards another, a State's Attorney's spokesman said.