Recent Posts in Murder/Manslaughter Category

In Phoenix, it is reported that the top prosecutor for Maricopa County plans to seek the death penalty for a man that was charged with shooting and killing a police officer in May 2010.

County Attorney Rick Romley made an announcement last week Thursday.  He confirmed that he had decided to seek the death penalty in a case involving 30 year old defendant, Danny Ledezma Martinez.

According to court documents, Martinez was indicted on 11 counts, including first-degree murder.  He stands accused of fatally shooting Officer Travis Murphy with an AR-15 rifle.  The shooting took place on May 26^th in front of a residence in central Phoenix.

This is not the first time Martinez has been in trouble with the law.  He served 5 years for attempted sexual assault and was released in 2003.  He also served 3 years for charges of felony weapons misconduct before being released in April of 2009.

If you have been charged with a serious crime in Phoenix, contact the Knowles Law Firm and set up an initial consultation with a Phoenix criminal defense attorney immediately.

According to authorities, a native of Mexico has been arrested and is facing additional criminal charges.  Prior to his recent arrest, 47 year old Evelio Padilla-Ortega had served time in jail for prison and was deported at least twice to Mexico.

Last Friday, police arrested Ortega and he was charged with re-entering the United States after deportation.  It is a felony offense that could result in 20 years of jail time if Ortega is convicted.

Police report that Ortega was deported to Mexico in 2003.  He was also deported in 2005 after he served one year of prison time for aggravated DUI and auto theft charges.   Officers say that in 1988, Ortega committed murder in the state of California.  He then fled to his native Mexico to avoid prosecution.   He was later arrested in Mexico and found guilty of homicide committed in a foreign country.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Phoenix and you are in need of legal representation, contact the Knowles Law Firm to schedule a consultation with a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer.

A 20-year-old youth center worker will spend the next 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to arson and manslaughter.

John Antonucci started what turned out to be a deadly fire at the youth center where he worked in order to cover up evidence that he stole money from the center.  According to officials, Antonucci was a former employee of Young Champions for America, and was under investigation for embezzlement.

Jack Balentine of the Phoenix Fire Investigation Department said that Antonucci set the blaze with an accomplice who also worked at the youth center. Antonucci’s job was to stand outside and keep watch while the other man doused the building in gasoline and set it on fire. Authorities say Antonucci told them he heard a loud explosion while he was outside, and then saw his accomplice run out of the building on fire.

Instead of staying to help his friend, Antonucci fled the scene without calling for help. It was Antonucci’s accomplice, 28-year-old Josh Robinson, that died in the fire.

An East Valley man is facing manslaughter charges after fatally striking an 8-year-old boy crossing the street with his family.

The accident occurred last Wednesday around 5:30 p.m.  According to the police, traffic stopped to let the boy, his step-father, and his two siblings cross the street.  That’s when Juan Miguel Aguirre allegedly swerved around the stopped vehicles and hit the boy, whose name has not yet been released.

Despite being rushed the hospital, the boy passed away.

Investigators are saying that Aguirre left his vehicle at the scene and ran away.  Officers were eventually able to catch up with him and bring him into custody.  He has since been booked at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office jail.

Although Aguirre was booked on manslaughter charges, he could face additional charges for hit & run and DUI.  Police suspect Aguirre could have been drunk at the time of the accident.