Mariachi music star Alvaro Alvarado-Amarias, 32, will serve three years on probation instead of three years in jail for pistol whipping a guitarist who wanted to quit the band in January.
He was sentenced today after agreeing to plead guilty to menacing, a minor felony, in exchange for a suspended sentence.
Alvarado-Amarias also must get treatment for substance abuse and anger management under the plea agreement.
The Denver District Attorney’s office dropped charges of assault and false imprisonment.
Alvarado-Amarias is the leader of the recording group Toros de la Sierra, a popular mariachi trio based in Denver.
Ervey Ruiz, 52, told police Alvarado-Amarias held him at gunpoint for nearly five hours, firing shots into the ceiling to terrorize him during the Jan. 5 ordeal.
Ruiz eventually wrestled the gun away and fled. Alvarado-Amarias goes by the stage name Leonardo Berrelleza.
