Editor's Note: An earlier version of the story incorrectly described the sequence of events in the crash involving Victor Villanueva Rivera. The error has been corrected.

-

A man accused of driving drunk through Wellington last December while a toddler slept in his car is facing deportation for the second time in less than a year, according to a federal complaint filed in court this week.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking to deport Nicolas Mateo, a native of Guatemala living in Loxahatchee. Mateo was arrested Dec. 18 on charges of DUI and child abuse charges after local authorities alleged he swerved across lanes on Southern Boulevard, nearly hitting other cars.

See who’s been booked into the Palm Beach County Jail

It’s the second case this week of a person in the United States illegally who may be deported following a traffic arrest. Victor Villanueva Rivera, a Mexican citizen who has lived in the U.S. for 27 years, was arrested early Sunday when he failed to stop his pickup after it was struck by a motorcyclist in Boynton Beach. The motorcyclist died in the crash.

According to federal authorities, Mateo was in the United States illegally after having being deported to Guatemala in July.

He faces a federal charge of illegal re-entry after deportation. It was not clear how long Mateo had been in the country when he was deported. At the time of his arrest in December, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office alleged that Mateo had a blood-alcohol content of .196, more than twice the legal limit.

While making the arrest, deputies observed two people asleep in Mateo’s car, including a girl who appeared to be about 2 years old. A man was leaning against the child’s car seat while holding an open can of Modelo beer, authorities said.

On Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Dave Lee Brannon signed an order for Mateo to be detained at a corrections facility. As of Tuesday, the DUI case remained scheduled for a plea hearing in August. The PBSO arrest report from December indicates that Mateo had no driver’s license.

Immigrant feared deportation, didn’t stop following fatal wreck

Rivera also had no driver’s license, since he was in the U.S. illegally. He faces charges of driving without a valid license and of leaving the scene of the fatal wreck, which killed Brandon Wesson, 21, of Palm Beach Gardens.

At his court appearance Monday, Rivera’s attorney stressed that he has no criminal history and has seven children living in the United States.

Download our PostNOW app to get the latest Breaking News