Topline: A Marion County judge refused to accept a plea deal that would have capped prison time for the Mexican rapper charged in a downtown Indianapolis crash that killed a Lyft passenger.
Published: August 24, 2026 7:04 am ET
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Brayan Camacho Calleja (via Marion County Jail)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — A Marion County judge rejected a plea deal Friday for Brayan Camacho Calleja, the Mexican rapper known as El Moreno Mexicano, in the fatal downtown Indianapolis OWI crash that killed a Lyft passenger last year.
According to WTHR, the judge said the agreement did not adequately reflect the nature of the allegations. Calleja had been set to plead guilty to causing death while operating a vehicle while intoxicated and three counts of criminal recklessness, while other charges, including reckless homicide, would have been dismissed.
Investigators said Aaron Deandre Radford, 31, was riding in a Lyft when the crash happened around 3 a.m. Sept. 20, 2025, at North East and East Ohio streets. Court records say Calleja was driving a red Dodge Charger at 94 mph about 1.1 seconds before impact and 77 mph at the moment of the collision in a 25 mph zone.
Authorities said the impact sent the SUV off the road and into a utility pole, ejecting Radford. He was taken to Methodist Hospital, where he died. The Lyft driver suffered two broken ribs.
Police said Calleja showed signs of intoxication after the crash, and investigators later said his blood alcohol content measured 0.108. Court records also said he had not been issued an Indiana driver’s license.
The rejected plea would have capped Calleja’s sentence at eight years and suspended his driver’s license. With the agreement now off the table, the case is headed for trial on Nov. 30.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Judge Rejects Plea Deal for Rapper Charged in Fatal Downtown Indianapolis OWI Crash
A Marion County judge refused to accept a plea deal that would have capped prison time for the Mexican rapper charged in a downtown Indianapolis crash that killed a Lyft passenger.
By Silvia Torres
Published: August 24, 2026 7:04 am ET
Brayan Camacho Calleja (via Marion County Jail)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — A Marion County judge rejected a plea deal Friday for Brayan Camacho Calleja, the Mexican rapper known as El Moreno Mexicano, in the fatal downtown Indianapolis OWI crash that killed a Lyft passenger last year.
According to WTHR, the judge said the agreement did not adequately reflect the nature of the allegations. Calleja had been set to plead guilty to causing death while operating a vehicle while intoxicated and three counts of criminal recklessness, while other charges, including reckless homicide, would have been dismissed.
Investigators said Aaron Deandre Radford, 31, was riding in a Lyft when the crash happened around 3 a.m. Sept. 20, 2025, at North East and East Ohio streets. Court records say Calleja was driving a red Dodge Charger at 94 mph about 1.1 seconds before impact and 77 mph at the moment of the collision in a 25 mph zone.
Authorities said the impact sent the SUV off the road and into a utility pole, ejecting Radford. He was taken to Methodist Hospital, where he died. The Lyft driver suffered two broken ribs.
Police said Calleja showed signs of intoxication after the crash, and investigators later said his blood alcohol content measured 0.108. Court records also said he had not been issued an Indiana driver’s license.
The rejected plea would have capped Calleja’s sentence at eight years and suspended his driver’s license. With the agreement now off the table, the case is headed for trial on Nov. 30.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Judge Rejects Plea Deal for Rapper Charged in Fatal Downtown Indianapolis OWI Crash
A Marion County judge refused to accept a plea deal that would have capped prison time for the Mexican rapper charged in a downtown Indianapolis crash that killed a Lyft passenger.
By Silvia Torres
Published: August 24, 2026 7:04 am ET
Brayan Camacho Calleja (via Marion County Jail)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — A Marion County judge rejected a plea deal Friday for Brayan Camacho Calleja, the Mexican rapper known as El Moreno Mexicano, in the fatal downtown Indianapolis OWI crash that killed a Lyft passenger last year.
According to WTHR, the judge said the agreement did not adequately reflect the nature of the allegations. Calleja had been set to plead guilty to causing death while operating a vehicle while intoxicated and three counts of criminal recklessness, while other charges, including reckless homicide, would have been dismissed.
Investigators said Aaron Deandre Radford, 31, was riding in a Lyft when the crash happened around 3 a.m. Sept. 20, 2025, at North East and East Ohio streets. Court records say Calleja was driving a red Dodge Charger at 94 mph about 1.1 seconds before impact and 77 mph at the moment of the collision in a 25 mph zone.
Authorities said the impact sent the SUV off the road and into a utility pole, ejecting Radford. He was taken to Methodist Hospital, where he died. The Lyft driver suffered two broken ribs.
Police said Calleja showed signs of intoxication after the crash, and investigators later said his blood alcohol content measured 0.108. Court records also said he had not been issued an Indiana driver’s license.
The rejected plea would have capped Calleja’s sentence at eight years and suspended his driver’s license. With the agreement now off the table, the case is headed for trial on Nov. 30.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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