Rockville, MD – In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Eric Johnson, defendant Jesica Argueta, 23, of Silver Spring, entered a guilty plea to one count of vehicular manslaughter by gross negligence and one count of second-degree assault for causing a collision that killed an 85-year-old woman and seriously injured a second victim. The plea hearing was held on July 22, 2026.
Argueta faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 16, 2026.
Advertisement
The charges stem from a crash that occurred on August 7, 2025, at 7:44 a.m. at Randolph Road and Sherwood Forest Drive in Silver Spring. The defendant was operating her 2025 Toyota GR86 at speeds up to 84.5 miles per hour (mph) in a 40-mph zone. Her vehicle was weaving through morning rush hour traffic prior to striking the victims’ 2011 Toyota 4Runner, causing the death of the front seat passenger, Josephine Gieske, and serious injuries to the driver. The victims were driving home from church, east on Randolph Road, and attempting to turn left onto Sherwood Forest Drive when they were struck. Josephine Gieske and the driver of the Toyota 4Runner were transported to the hospital with severe injuries. On August 22, 2025, Gieske died from injuries she sustained from the collision.
Assistant State’s Attorney Hannah Gleason is prosecuting this case.
Advertisement
Read the original article at mcsao