This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Utah man accused of shooting and killing a rival gang member in 2013 has pleaded guilty to reduced charges.
Donald Orlando Valdez, 33, pleaded guilty last Friday to second-degree felonies manslaughter, discharge of a firearm and obstructing justice in the Aug. 31, 2013, death of David Gonzales.
He was originally charged with first-degree felony murder, but the count was reduced to manslaughter as part of a plea agreement, according to court records. Valdez admitted in documents filed in court that he shot and killed Gonzales, but that he believed "he was reasonably acting in self-defense but in circumstances in which he used more force than legally justifiable."
He faces a one-to-15-year prison sentence for each count when he is sentenced on March 20. Attorneys have agreed that his prison terms will be served consecutively.
Police have said that Gonzales, 28, was at a house near 900 South and 300 West for his sister's birthday party on the day of the shooting.
Witnesses told police that Valdez and his brother, Nicholas Valdez, were flashing hand signs associated with the gang Varrio Locco Town. At some point, Nicholas Valdez got into a fistfight with Gonzales, who was a member of the 21st Street gang, a VLT rival.
The fight moved outside at about 6:55 a.m., where Nicholas Valdez allegedly pulled out a silver handgun and fired two rounds. A fragment struck one of the bystanders at the party, according to court documents.
At some point, Donald Valdez also fired a gun. Gonzales was struck in the head, and died in front of the house.
Originally, Nicholas Valdez was arrested on suspicion of Gonzales' murder, but investigators later found evidence that linked his brother to the crime.
The shell casings that were next to Gonzales' body matched those from a Glock pistol, which was hidden — along with some of Donald Valdez's clothes — in a nearby alley.
Nicholas Valdez, 29, pleaded guilty to third-degree felonies discharge of a firearm and obstructing justice for his role in the crimes, and he was sentenced to 24 months probation.
Twitter: @jm_miller