ONE OF THE TEENS CHARGED IN LAST SUMMER’S FATAL SHOOTING OF 17 YEAR OLD JAYDON CHAVEZ-SILVER IS PLEADING GUILTY TO A LESSER CHARGE. NICHOLAS GONZALES-VILLASENOR WAS INITIALLY INDICTED ON FIRST AND SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES IN THE ALBUQUERQUE CASE. ON TUESDAY, HE PLEADED GUILTY TO A SINGLE COUNT OF SHOOTING AT A DWELLING OR OCCUPIED BUILDING WITH GREAT BODILY HARM, AND CONSPIRACY.
GETTING RID OF THE FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES MEANS HE WON’T FACE THE ADULT LEGAL SYSTEM BUT WILL INSTEAD BE CHARGED AS A SERIOUS YOUTH OFFENDER.
CHARGES AGAINST DONOVAN MAEZ AND CHRISTOPHER CRUZ WERE DROPPED FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE. DOMINIC CONYERS GOES ON TRIAL IN MAY OF NEXT YEAR. CHAVEZ-SILVER WAS SHOT IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING AFTER SHOTS WERE FIRED THROUGH THE WALL OF A NORTHEAST ALBUQUERQUE HOME WHERE HE WAS ATTENDING A HOUSE PARTY.
