Juan Jose Coronado-Avila pleaded guilty to manslaughter Thursday in a deal he made with Denver prosecutors as the victim’s mother looked on in disgust.
Coronado-Avila, 31, was initially charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Jorge Omar Valdez.
Prosecutors agreed to the manslaughter plea because they did not believe they could prove a first-degree murder charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
The decision outraged Valdez’s mother, Rosa Valdez, who turned up in Denver District Court to watch Coronado-Avila give his plea.
She believes Coronado-Avila killed her son in cold blood and deserves to go to prison for life.
A manslaughter conviction carries a penalty of two to six years in prison. A sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 16.
Valdez shook with anger in her courtroom seat as she tried to meet Coronado-Avila’s eyes to find some sense of remorse during the brief hearing.
“He doesn’t have any,” Valdez said.
Coronado-Avila shot 29-year-old Valdez on March 24 on West Ninth Avenue and Winona Court in a drive-by shooting. A motive for the killing is unknown.
The day of the shooting, Valdez’s son agreed to give Arnulfo Higuera-Ruiz, a family friend, a ride to the area as a favor, she said. As they stood in the street, Coronado-Avila opened fire.
Valdez’s mother objected to the plea deal because she believes her son did nothing to provoke the shooting and was not involved in any crime.
Prosecutors told Judge Sheila A. Rappaport that Valdez did not agree with the plea deal.
Although her opposition to the lesser charge was put on the record, it was little consolation to Valdez.
“He’s getting away with murder,” she said.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
