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Father Not Guilty in Son’s Death
News-Sun October–2009
DENVER CITY, TEXAS – Pete Hernandez didn’t say much after a jury found him not guilty of all charges resulting his son’s death in 2007. What he did say came through tears. “The healing begins today,” he said in a soft voice as he left the courthouse with his longtime girlfriend and her daughter by his side. After a five-hour deliberation, a jury of five women and seven men issued a verdict of not guilty on the two remaining charges against him after a third was dropped earlier that morning.
Lesser Charge
News-Sun May–2009
HOBBS, NEW MEXICO – While the jury continued to deliberate 44-year-old Evelyn Warden’s fate, Warden hugged and comforted her mother in an empty courtroom, telling her everything would be all right. Less than 15 minutes later, the jury knocked on the door and let the bailiff know they had made their decision in Warden’s trial for second-degree murder. “We find the defendant guilty of involuntary manslaughter,” District Judge William Shoobridge said as he read the jury’s verdict. The jury also found the shooting of Julius Morro, 44, was committed with a firearm, which may give Warden an additional year in jail. The maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter is 18 months. The jury’s verdict came 9 1/2 hours after it began deliberations Wednesday afternoon. Prior to the start of deliberations, both attorneys gave their closing arguments on the case. “Everybody that was there you heard from,” said defense attorney Jon Fredlund. “Everybody that was there was engaged in drug and alcohol abuse.”
Fredlund argued that Warden had gotten in with a group of people who had known each other for years, making Warden the newcomer. “She found herself involved with Julius and Jeremy (Goff) over a very short period of time, and she regretted getting involved with them,” Fredlund said.
Jury Acquits Man in Roswell Slaying
The Associated Press June–2007
ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO – A man who had been on parole when a Roswell teen was found shot to death in his car has been acquitted in the slaying. A Chaves County jury deliberated for seven hours before reaching the verdict (Friday) in the trial of Tony "Nacho" Gonzales. The 29-year-old had been accused of fatally shooting 19-year-old Robert Romero, whose body was found in August of 2005 in thedriver's seat of Gonzales' vehicle. Gonzales' attorney, Jon Fredlund, says he's happy with theverdict but it doesn't diminish from the tragic events of Romero's death.
Man Not Guilty in Baby’s Death
News-Sun May–2006
LOVINGTON, NEW MEXICO – Christopher Coronado is a free man. An 11-man and one-woman jury found the 26-year-old not guilty of abandonment or abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm or death after less than 15 minutes of deliberation. “We are happy, but that in no way diminishes from this tragic situation,” said Jon Fredlund, Coronado’s attorney, after the jury’s verdict. Before bringing in the jury to read its verdict, District Judge Gary Clingman had a few words for family members from both sides of the case. “No matter what the jury does, it cannot restore a life,” Clingman said. |
