A man who admitted he witnessed the murder of another man in April has pleaded guilty to hiding the body in an attempt to cover up the crime.
Arturo Hernandez, 28, was originally charged with slaying Silverio Florez-Gonzales in April. But as part of an agreement, he pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. Under terms of the plea bargain, the first-degree felony charge against Hernandez will be dropped.Prosecutor Greg Bown said Hernandez did not shoot Florez-Gonzales.
The man believed to have pulled the trigger, Sergio Miranda, is charged with murder but has never been apprehended. Carlos Mora-Peralda, who helped Miranda and Hernandez dump the body, pleaded guilty to lesser drug charges last month and has been deported to Mexico.
Florez-Gonzales' body was found wrapped in duct tape and blankets in a culvert near 880 S. 4400 West on April 16. He had been shot several times in the head.
According to court documents, Miranda and Hernandez were talking to Florez-Gonzales at an auto shop at 2450 W. 500 South when he was killed. Mora-Peralda was outside when the shooting occurred. The three men left, but returned a few hours later to dispose of the body.
Lillian Fox, 18, lived with Florez-Gonzales for more than a year before his death. The two were planning a July wedding when he disappeared.
"He said he would be back in an hour and he never came back," she said after the hearing Tuesday.
Fox said the men all knew each other and were friends until Gomez used one of the men's names when he was arrested last spring.
"That was dumb," Fox said. "But, they could have handled it differently."
Through an interpreter, Hernandez told 3rd Circuit Judge Stephen L. Henriod that he helped move the body in order to delay the police in finding it.
Hernandez remains in jail awaiting sentencing.