PUEBLO, Colo.—A Pueblo teenager now faces up to 48 years in prison after a jury convicted him of second-degree murder in the shooting death of his father’s rival.
Jurors returned a guilty verdict Monday in the trial of 17-year-old Rico Sierra. He was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 42-year-old Mark Lucero.
Lucero was gunned down outside his home Aug. 21, 2007. Defense attorney Michael Emmons told jurors that Lucero had charged at Sierra’s father, Joe Manuel Sierra, with a knife, and that the boy was trying to save his father’s life.
Emmons says the teen plans to appeal.
The boy’s 45-year-old father also faces first-degree murder charges in Lucero’s death and is scheduled to stand trial in January.
Sentencing for Rico Sierra is set for Jan. 17.
