A Pima County jury has convicted Adrian Valenzuela of first-degree murder and 31 other felony counts, including multiple counts of armed robbery.
Deputy Pima County Attorney Mike Kelly told jurors it was Valenzuela’s idea to go on a robbery spree last October, it was Valenzuela who chose five houses in three hours and it was Valenzuela who drove the getaway car.
Kelly argued that because Valenzuela was the mastermind behind the spree, he should be convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Martin Guillermo Rodriguez, who was shot to death during the last home invasion of the evening.
This morning, a Pima County jury decided Kelly proved his case beyond a reasonable doubt, and Valenzuela is now facing a possible life sentence with or without the possibility of parole on the murder charge alone.
According to Kelly, Valenzuela waited outside in a borrowed Chevrolet Cavalier as Thomas Hernandez and Andy Gonzales kicked in or tried to kick in the doors of the five homes.
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The men targeted Rodriguez’s house after watching his family arrive home in a newer model sport utility vehicle, Kelly said.
Hernandez and Gonzales kicked in the door with such force the hinges flew across the living room, Kelly said.
They ran upstairs, stormed into Rodriguez’s bedroom — where the 35-year-old lay sleeping with his wife and 21-month-old son — and demanded cash, drugs and jewelry, Kelly said.
Rodriguez was shot twice because he struggled as the men tried to tie him up, Kelly said.
In a bedroom down the hall, two of the victim’s relatives jumped out of a second-story window to escape, Kelly said. Two other relatives in another bedroom stacked furniture up against the door as Gonzales screamed at them and kicked a hole in the door.
Eventually the invaders fled.
They were arrested after the owner of the car they used during the heists called authorities. Inside her house, police found Gonzales asleep wearing Rodriguez’s bracelet, Kelly said. They also found other stolen jewelry and a stolen digital camera, he said. On the camera were pictures of the three men sitting in the woman’s apartment showing off the stolen jewelry.
Hernandez was convicted at trial and was sentenced to life in prison plus 48 1/2 years.
Gonzales pleaded guilty to manslaughter and armed robbery and testified against Valenzuela. He is facing 10 1/2 to 33 1/2 years in prison.
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