Boy, 14, gets ‘sweet deal’ to testify in murder trial

Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005 | 9:54 a.m.

A 14-year-old boy originally charged with murder received what a deputy special public defender called a "sweet deal" on Wednesday by agreeing to testify against his 16-year-old co-defendant.

Even though police found Samario Williams, 14, with the gun used to kill 26-year-old Jesus Escoto-Gonzales, he no longer faces murder charges.

In a plea agreement reached with prosecutors, Williams is expected to plead guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit robbery and carrying a concealed weapon when he goes before District Judge Jennifer Togliatti on Sept. 7.

If Togliatti were to run the counts consecutively, Williams would face two to 11 years in prison.

Williams and Demondray Mayo, 16, were both originally charged with murder with use of a deadly weapon, robbery with use of a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit murder with use of a deadly weapon in the Aug. 6 killing in the 3300 block of Athens Street, near Desert Inn Road.

Williams was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon, while Mayo faced an additional charge of battery.

Deputy District Attorney Susan Krisko said in exchange for Williams' plea agreement he must testify against Mayo, who currently faces all of the original charges.

Deputy Special Public Defender Ivette Meningo said a status check on Mayo's case is scheduled for Sept. 15 before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Deborah Lippis. Meningo said while she remains hopeful Mayo's case could be negotiated she couldn't understand how Williams received such a favorable deal.

"He's (Williams) getting a sweet deal and he was the person found with the firearm," Meningo said.

Meningo said equally puzzling was how Mayo's girlfriend, 20-year-old Andrea Roman, who she claims was with Williams and Mayo "before, during and after" the shooting, is not being charged in the case.

Krisko declined to comment on the facts of the case.

According to the arrest report, Williams told officers he was selling crack cocaine from an apartment in the 3300 block of Cambridge Street late on Aug. 5 when Mayo came in an asked to borrow Williams' gun to "rob a Mexican in the alley.'

Police said Williams told them that he followed Mayo into the alley where Escoto-Gonzales was walking, then saw Mayo point the gun at Escoto-Gonzales, who was reluctant to turn over his wallet.

Escoto-Gonzales was later found with a close-range gunshot wound in his chest and lacerations and contusions on his legs, arms and chest, indicating he was involved in a fight, police said.

Mayo later told police he shot Escoto-Gonzales because he was holding a knife to the throat of Roman, and was demanding sex from her, officers said. Roman, however, later told police that Escoto-Gonzales did not have a knife and never threatened her, according to the arrest report.