Actor Pablo Lyle awaits corrections’ recommendation, judge’s sentencing

MIAMI – Mexican actor Pablo Lyle, who is awaiting sentencing for manslaughter in the death of Juan Hernandez, has to return to Miami-Dade County court in about 21 days.

Circuit Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez has to consider whether or not to include his time on house arrest as part of a sentence that could range from nine to 15 years in prison.

Attorney Zena Duncan, who is representing Hernandez’s family, released a statement after the jury’s guilty verdict saying they were grateful and looking forward to the sentencing.

“It has been and will be a very difficult world for them without Juan Ricardo. He was a joyous, caring man who loved his family and enjoyed life,” Duncan wrote. “No measure of justice will right the injustice that occurred on that street.”

Court records show corrections officers are scheduled to bring Lyle, 35, back to court at 9 a.m., on Oct. 26 for sentencing and judgment. The process includes a pre-sentencing investigation, a recommendation by corrections, and disposition, the judge’s final determination.

Florida law requires the investigation report by corrections to consider Lyle as a first offender, father of two, and his education and employment background.

Before a surveillance camera recorded him punching Hernandez, he threw plenty of punches while playing a businessman on the run in “Yankee,” a Netflix crime drama series. The soap opera star starred in “Mi Adorable Maldición,” “La Sombra Del Pasado” and “Corazón Que Miente.”

Lyle was first arrested for battery on April 8, 2019, after punching Hernandez on March 31, 2019, at Northwest 27th Avenue and 14th Street.

Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Lisa Walsh allowed Lyle to travel back home to Mexico, while Hernandez was unresponsive at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center.

Four days after the punch, Hernandez, 63, died. Lyle flew back to Miami and his defense attorneys argued it was a case of self-defense. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Alan Fine disagreed.

During the trial, Lyle’s defense argued it was a case about “fear.” The prosecution said it was about “anger.”

“That punch Mr. Lyle did actually caused the victim to fall back to hit his head and to crack open his skull, and ultimately those injuries caused his death,” Assistant State Attorney Gabriela Alfaro said in court.

It took less than five hours of deliberation for the jury to side with the prosecution. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle released a statement soon after.

“Two lives were destroyed by simple roadway anger, a situation we see far too often on our streets and on streets across the country,” Fernandez Rundle wrote.

Lyle wasn’t driving. His brother-in-law Lucas Delfino was. Surveillance video showed Hernandez was so angry after Delfino cut him off that he got out of his car and started to bang on Delfino’s window.

Ana Araujo, a Mexican actress who wed Lyle in 2014, said during her testimony that Hernandez shouted “nasty things” and scared her and the children in the car.

Surveillance video shows Delfino getting out of the car, so Hernandez decided to walk back to his car. Lyle quickly got out of the car too, ran toward Hernandez, and punched him.

“I remember looking down through the windshield and seeing the patient laying on the street and he didn’t look very good at all,” Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Robert Pons said in court.

Detective Jean Petitcar said the video matched everything Lyle and the witnesses told him. One of the witnesses said Lyle “looked crazy” and “out of control.”

After the arrest, Lyle was released on a $50,000 bond and was on house arrest in Miami-Dade for about three years before he walked away from his family in handcuffs Tuesday.

According to state law on the pre-sentencing investigation that the judge ordered, corrections can recommend special education and treatment at a center, or at a residential facility. They may also include a report on the ability of the department to provide “adequate” supervision for the celebrity.

Watch when jury announces verdict

Watch the 6 p.m., Tuesday report

Watch the 3:30 p.m. Wednesday report

Related social media