Miguel Perez appeared by phone with his lawyer entering a not guilty plea for him.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The semi-truck driver charged in the crash that killed a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s sergeant pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Friday.

A lawyer for Miguel Orlando Perez entered the not guilty plea for him. Perez was supposed to appear virtually on Zoom but his lawyer said he had connection issues. They proceeded with him on the phone as the lawyer entered the plea.

Perez is charged with careless driving and operating a vehicle on approach of an emergency vehicle. The judge decided he can remain in his home state of Florida. However, he has to check in virtually until trial.

BCSO Sgt. Michael Schlattman was killed in February when Perez’s semi-truck slammed into Schlattman’s patrol vehicle in February on I-40. It happened on I-40 while the sergeant was conducting a stop there.

A first-time careless driving charge carries up to 90 days in jail and up to $500, if convicted.