Suspect may change plea

Dan Kulin

Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002 | 11:21 a.m.

One of three Las Vegas men charged with murdering two teenagers in April is considering a plea agreement that would reduce the maximum penalty he faces from life without parole to 10 years in prison, his attorney said today.

Eduvijes Pena is considering pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping, Pena's attorney Robert Draskovich said. Pena is scheduled to appear in District Court on Jan. 2 to possibly change his plea.

Pena, Manuel Horta, and Nicolas Felix all face charges of murder, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder and/or kidnapping for the deaths of Cleofas Martinez and Julio Cano.

Martinez and Cano were found bound on April 22 near Craig Road and Lamb Boulevard.

An autopsy revealed the men died as a result of asphyxiation.

According to police reports, Pena told police the victims were kidnapped and killed as a result of a double-crossing in a drug deal.

Pena was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, but that hearing was postponed because plea agreement documents needed to be translated for Pena, who speaks Spanish, Chief Deputy District Attorney Ed Kane said.

Kane would not discuss the specifics of the proposed plea agreement.

Pena and Horta face life sentences without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Felix faces the death penalty, Kane said.