A man charged with murder for his role in the 2012 fatal shooting of Salt Lake City smoke shop clerk pleaded guilty to a lesser homicide count on Thursday morning.
Vladimir Suarez-Campos, 40, pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony manslaughter in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court.
He also pleaded guilty to second-degree felony counts of obstructing justice and felony discharge of a firearm.
During the Thursday hearing, Suarez-Campos paused before quietly uttering "guilty" in Spanish for each charge. When asked for his plea for the obstruction of justice charge, Suarez-Campos said through an interpretor, "I am most guilty of that."
Despite the felony-level crimes — which each carry punishments of up to 15 years — Suarez-Campos will likely serve no prison time, according to attorneys.
At sentencing on Dec. 15, Suarez-Campos is expected to be sentenced to a probation period of up to seven years, defense attorney Adam Crayk has told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Salt Lake County prosecutors negotiated the plea agreement with Suarez-Campos in return for his testimony against Yelfris Sosa-Hurtado, who was convicted last week of fatally shooting 26-year-old Stephen Guadalupe Chavez inside CJ's Smoke Shop on March 14, 2012.
At Sosa-Hurtado's trial, Suarez-Campos said he had gone to the shop, 876 W. 800 South, thinking he and his friend were going to engage in a fist fight. Instead, he testified to watching from outside the shop door as Sosa-Hurtado walked into the business and opened fire with a rifle.
Police initially pegged Suarez-Campos as Sosa-Hurtado's getaway driver, but he told the jury he fled on foot after the shooting.
Crayk said he plans to ask the state to allow Suarez-Campos to relocate to Florida, where he has family.
Judge Denise Lindberg ordered Thursday that Suarez-Campos could be released from the Summit County jail pending sentencing.
Suarez-Campos will be sentenced on the same day as Sosa-Hurtado.
After nine hours of deliberating, a jury found Sosa-Hurtado, 28, guilty of first-degree felony aggravated murder and nine counts of third-degree felony discharge of a weapon. He faces a possible prison term of 25 years to life, or life without the possibility of parole.
— Tribune reporter Jennifer Dobner contributed to this story.
jmiller@sltrib.com
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado enters the room during his trail at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse Tuesday October 28, 2014. Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado is on trial this week, charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated murder for allegedly shooting and killing 26-year-old Stephen Guadalupe Chavez, after a confrontation at CJÕs Smoke Shop, 876 W. 800 South, in Salt Lake City on March 14, 2012.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado enters the room during his trail at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse Tuesday October 28, 2014. Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado is on trial this week, charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated murder for allegedly shooting and killing 26-year-old Stephen Guadalupe Chavez, after a confrontation at CJÕs Smoke Shop, 876 W. 800 South, in Salt Lake City on March 14, 2012.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado listens during his trail at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse Tuesday October 28, 2014. Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado is on trial this week, charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated murder for allegedly shooting and killing 26-year-old Stephen Guadalupe Chavez, after a confrontation at CJÕs Smoke Shop, 876 W. 800 South, in Salt Lake City on March 14, 2012.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado listens during his trail at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse Tuesday October 28, 2014. Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado is on trial this week, charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated murder for allegedly shooting and killing 26-year-old Stephen Guadalupe Chavez, after a confrontation at CJÕs Smoke Shop, 876 W. 800 South, in Salt Lake City on March 14, 2012.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Isabel Chavez talks about the night his son was killed during the trail at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse Tuesday October 28, 2014. Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado is on trial this week, charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated murder for allegedly shooting and killing 26-year-old Stephen Guadalupe Chavez, after a confrontation at CJÕs Smoke Shop, 876 W. 800 South, in Salt Lake City on March 14, 2012.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Isabel Chavez talks about the night his son was killed during the trail at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse Tuesday October 28, 2014. Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado is on trial this week, charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated murder for allegedly shooting and killing 26-year-old Stephen Guadalupe Chavez, after a confrontation at CJÕs Smoke Shop, 876 W. 800 South, in Salt Lake City on March 14, 2012.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Defense attorney Heather Brereton listens during the trail at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse Tuesday October 28, 2014. Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado is on trial this week, charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated murder for allegedly shooting and killing 26-year-old Stephen Guadalupe Chavez, after a confrontation at CJÕs Smoke Shop, 876 W. 800 South, in Salt Lake City on March 14, 2012.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Defense attorney Ralph Dellapiana listens during the trail at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse Tuesday October 28, 2014. Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado is on trial this week, charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated murder for allegedly shooting and killing 26-year-old Stephen Guadalupe Chavez, after a confrontation at CJÕs Smoke Shop, 876 W. 800 South, in Salt Lake City on March 14, 2012.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Vince Meister questions Isabel Chavez during the trail at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse Tuesday October 28, 2014. Yelfis Sosa-Hurtado is on trial this week, charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated murder for allegedly shooting and killing 26-year-old Stephen Guadalupe Chavez, after a confrontation at CJÕs Smoke Shop, 876 W. 800 South, in Salt Lake City on March 14, 2012.
Courtesy Photo Stephen Chavez, in 2011.
Courtesy Photo Stephen Chavez, in 2008.
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