Three plead not guilty to murder charges

Erica D. Johnson

Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002 | 9:42 a.m.

The three people caught dumping a body near the base of Sunrise Mountain pleaded not guilty to murder and accessory to murder charges Wednesday in District Court.

Jose Aguilar, 22, Sergio Juarez-Cortez, 17, and Modesta Aguilar, 50, appeared before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure.

Aguilar and Cortez are charged with one count each of murder with the use of a deadly weapon.

Cortez also faces a felony accessory to murder charge, along with Aguilar's aunt, Modesta Aguilar.

A joint trial is scheduled for Feb. 10.

The three are being held at the Clark County Detention Center. Bail has not been set.

Cortez's attorney, Joseph Scalia, on Tuesday filed a motion to dismiss his client's indictment.

Cortez is charged with alternate counts of first-degree murder and accessory to murder, Scalia said. He can't be charged with both.

Prosecutors have 30 days to respond to the motion, Bonaventure said.

"My client is clearly not guilty of first-degree murder," Scalia said. "We believe he was forced to participate, as well as the co-defendant, Modesta."

Deputy Public Defender Joseph Abood, Jose Aguilar's attorney, said he plans to review the indictment carefully before determining his next step.

Jose Aguilar and Cortez were arrested in November after a Metro Police patrol officer discovered them moving the body of Jose Delatorre from the trunk of their car into the desert near Hollywood Boulevard and Vegas Valley Drive, police said.

Modesta Aguilar was in the car at the time, they said.

Police allege Jose Aguilar and Cortez killed Delatorre in an apartment near Vegas Valley Drive and Lamb Boulevard, then burned his body.