Sentencing delayed for woman convicted of tampering with evidence in Oro Valley distracted driving case | News

ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (KVOA) — The fate of Jana Giron regarding her conviction of tampering with evidence connected to the deaths of two people in 2019 has been delayed.

A hung jury last month could not decide whether she was guilty of more serious charges.

Giron is accused of killing the couple while driving distracted behind the wheel in Oro Valley near Shannon and Lambert roads.

Giron’s sentencing has been pushed back until October 28th. 

For most of the 10 minute hearing the judge, the state and defense talked about plans for a retrial and the serious charges that Giron is facing.

Those charges include reckless, manslaughter, criminal damage and endangerment in the deaths of Paul Garcia and Caitlin Festerling.

In August of 2024 a jury could not reach a verdict on those charges regarding the 2019 Oro Valley crash.

Now the Pima County Attorney’s Office is re trying this case.

The judge ordered the state and the defense to file any pre-trial motions by October 21, 2024.

The judge overseeing this case says he’s never seen a situation like this ever.

“This situation is fairly unprecedented in my experience, where there was a conviction on one of more counts. Hung jury on one or more counts, but the subject matter of the count that there was a conviction will seem to be a part of the next trial,” said Honorable Christopher Browning, a Pima County Superior Court Judge.

The judge anticipates a re-trial for Giron on February 4, 2025, with a 12 person jury.