SANTA ROSA (BCN) – A 22-year-old Santa Rosa man pleaded no contest this morning in Sonoma County Superior Court to being an accessory to the murder of a teen at a party in Windsor last June.
Sergio Quiroz also admitted an enhancement alleging his actions were intended to benefit a street gang. He faces a maximum term of seven years in prison when he is sentenced April 3. Under the plea agreement, if Quiroz is sentenced to prison, he will be eligible for probation and could serve only half his sentence.
Quiroz was charged with being an accessory to the shooting murder of 15-year-old Nathaniel Torres of Windsor at the party on June 22. As well, three other people at the party were shot but survived.
Flavio Ramos Caballero, now 18, Oscar Gustavo Aguilar, 17, and Duane Darcell Morgan, now 17, have been charged as adults for the murder.
After the murder, the three suspects fled to Mexico where they were arrested on Oct. 20, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. Morgan returned to Sonoma County. Caballero and Aguilar fought extradition and were taken to the Pima County Jail in Arizona. The the latter two were returned to Sonoma County in December.
Quiroz’s attorney Stephen Turer said the three murder suspects were asked to leave the party that was attended by gang members, and the shooting happened outdoors as they were getting into a vehicle to leave.
Quiroz was not at the party, but he drove the three suspects to Reno the next day before driving them back to Santa Rosa, Turer said.
“There is no evidence he (Quiroz) was aware of the shootings,” Turer said.