Two women facing potential life sentences in the July shooting death of a 20-year-old Tucson man entered plea agreements with prosecutors Tuesday that could result in probation for one woman and a maximum prison sentence of eight years for the other.
Alma Trinidad Huizar, 25, pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, and Angelica Leon, 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery.
Rosendo Ortega, 20, was shot to death in a shopping center parking lot in the 500 block of West Ajo Way last July.
One of the suspects arrested in the case, Ahbram Avalos, 33, told police he supplied Ortega with a large amount of cocaine to sell and then coordinated a drug transaction between Ortega, Eva Macias, 36, and Huizar, who is Macias' sister, according to court documents.
Instead of buying the drugs, however, court documents indicate Macias decided to rob Ortega of his money and drugs because she owed $33,000 on a truck she owned that had been stolen by another drug dealer employed by Avalos.
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Macias, Huizar, Michael Haro, 20, and Leon met with Ortega at the shopping center, and Haro shot him, according to court records.
Huizar's attorney, Harold Higgins, told Judge Deborah Bernini of Pima County Superior Court that Huizar and Macias met with Ortega because they expected to be repaid a large sum they were owed, and they were surprised when Ortega was shot and killed.
Leon's attorney, Rick Lougee, said Leon agreed to help Huizar collect a debt, believing it was owed by a woman. When it became clear the money was to be collected from a man, Leon brought Haro to the meeting, Lougee said.
Huizar will receive somewhere between four and eight years in prison. Leon could receive probation or up to 3.75 years in prison. Both women will be sentenced March 5.
Last week, Avalos pleaded guilty to transportation of a narcotic drug for sale and will serve between three and 12 1/2 years in prison. He will be sentenced Feb. 8. Macias and Haro's cases are still pending.
Kim Smith
