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A 28-year-old Magna man has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in the May shooting death of a man in Murray that was apparently gang-related.
Jonas Rodríguez Pérez was charged in 3rd District Court with first-degree murder for the slaying of 21-year-old Alvert John Mike.
He pleaded guilty last month to a second-degree felony count of manslaughter and faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 15 by Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills.
As part of a plea deal, second-degree felony counts of discharge of a firearm and a possession of a dangerous weapon were dismissed.
According to charging documents, Rodríguez Pérez began fighting with Mike at a party near 6600 South 630 West in the early morning of May 19.
The party included a group of Sureños gang members. Mike, who arrived as part of a group of Norteños gang members, began throwing gang signs and arguing with Rodríguez Pérez, a known Sureños associate, according to charges.
When the conflict escalated, Rodríguez Pérez chased Mike down the street and shot him, fleeing the scene before police arrived, charges state.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement say Rodríguez Pérez was deported in 2010 and was in the country unlawfully at the time of the slaying. Utah court records show two past traffic citations and a 2010 warrant alleging Rodríguez Pérez was wanted in San Diego for a drunk-driving case involving injury.
Porfirio Pérez Saligán, 23, allegedly told detectives he was the getaway driver for Rodríguez Pérez.
Pérez Saligan was charged with second-degree felony obstructing justice, but pleaded guilty in September to a lesser count of third-degree felony obstructing justice.
He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and ordered to pay a $500 fine and complete 100 hours of community service as part of a 36-month probation.