Plea deals made in drive-by

Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004 | 9:33 a.m.

Two of the three Las Vegas teens charged with attempted murder in the alleged gang-related drive-by shooting of a 12-year-old are pleading guilty to lesser charges as part of plea bargains reached with prosecutors on Wednesday.

Adan Delgado and Gonzalo Antunez, both 15, along with Jairo Garcia, 18, each initially had been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon in connection with the shooting, which left the 12-year-old boy with thigh injuries.

Garcia, who was driving the car, is expected to plead guilty to one count of gang-related battery with use of a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Victoria Villegas. That charge is punishable by a sentence of four to 20 years in prison, but Garcia also could get probation and no prison time.

Villegas said Delgado, who was sitting in the back seat, is expected to plead guilty to being an accomplice to gang-related attempted murder after the fact . Delgado could also be sentenced to probation, but faces the possibility of two to 10 years in prison at sentencing.

Villegas would not comment on whether Delgado and Garcia's plea agreements require them to testify against Antunez, the alleged gunman.

Antunez and Delgado are being held at the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center without bail. Garcia is in custody at the Clark County Detention Center.

Nevada law requires anyone 8 or older who is charged with murder or attempted murder to be tried as an adult.

Villegas said a status check on Antunez's case is scheduled for Friday morning before Las Vegas Justice Court Judge James Bixler.

The three teens were arrested Aug. 8 after officers responded to a report of a 12-year-old boy who had been shot in the thigh as he walked alone near Eastern and Franklin avenues just south of Charleston Boulevard about 7:30 p.m., police said.