GREELEY, Colo.—The trial of a man accused of killing a Greeley man last year during a botched robbery attempt has ended with a hung jury.
A new trial for John Paul Romero is scheduled for June 30, again before Weld County District Judge Dan Maus.
District attorney’s spokeswoman Jennifer Finch says jurors began deliberating Monday afternoon and came back around noon Tuesday saying they couldn’t unanimously agree.
Romero is accused of fatally shooting 44-year-old Luis Rocha while trying to steal drugs from his home in early 2008. He was arrested two weeks later at a Fort Collins residence after a brief standoff with police.
Three others also were arrested in the case: 28-year-old Mauricio Puente-Hernandez, 26-year-old Adrian Gomez and 17-year-old Oscar Marquez.
A jury this month convicted Gomez of first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery. His sentencing is scheduled for Friday.
Puente-Hernandez pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder and criminal mischief, and agreed to testify against the others. His sentencing is set for June 18.
Marquez, who police say waited in the car while Rocha was shot twice, received a suspended prison sentence and was ordered to complete six years in the Youthful Offender System.
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Information from: Greeley Daily Tribune,
