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The second of three men who pleaded guilty in connection with the jealously-fueled April slaying of an 18-year-old Salt Lake City man was sentenced Friday to prison.
James Wellah Williams in September pleaded guilty to two second-degree felonies: manslaughter with a weapons enhancement — reduced from murder — and burglary — reduced from aggravated burglary, for his part in the shooting death of Jose Javier Fernandez.
On Friday, 3rd District Judge Keith Kelly sentenced Williams to prison for two to 20 years on the manslaughter count, and one to 15 years on the burglary count, ordering the two terms to run consecutively.
Defense attorney Edwin Wall asked for probation given Williams' age and that he has "never been involved in violence" before.
The prosecutor asked for a stiffer punishment because records show Williams communicating with the co-defendants about the "affair" and location prior to the murder, Wall said after the sentencing hearing Friday.
Last week, co-defendant Gaethan Laguerre, 26 — who pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a gang enhancement, reduced from murder; and aggravated burglary, both first-degree felonies — was sentenced to prison for five years to life.
William Armstrong P-Graham, 21 — who has pleaded guilty to first-degree felony murder — is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 2.
P-Graham believed his girlfriend was sleeping with Fernandez, according to prosecutors, though that was not true. The perceived jealousy, however, fueled a confrontation.
On April 7, the three men went to Fernandez's home, near 200 North and 1550 West. P-Graham purportedly shot Fernandez first with a .380-caliber handgun, firing eight times. Laguerre also shot at Fernandez twice with a 9mm gun, according to charges.
Fernandez was struck eight times, according to prosecutors, and died at the scene.
Williams told police he knew what P-Graham and Laguerre planned to do, charges state, and that he helped by ushering children who were at Fernandez's house outside before the shooting.