Last defendant in case set for October trial

Posted 2/23/17

John L. Marquez — the man alleged to have actually shot and then dismembered Juan Antonio Guerra-Torres — recently received an Oct. 23 trial date.

Marquez, 53, has denied allegations of first-degree murder and conspiring to commit …

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Last defendant in case set for October trial

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Two of the three defendants charged in connection with a Mexican man’s 2014 murder and mutilation reached plea deals with the Park County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The third defendant, however, appears to be planning to take his case to a jury.

John L. Marquez — the man alleged to have actually shot and then dismembered Juan Antonio Guerra-Torres — recently received an Oct. 23 trial date.

Marquez, 53, has denied allegations of first-degree murder and conspiring to commit first-degree murder; he has said it’s “ludicrous” and “crazy” that a judge signed off on the charges in 2015.

Fifth Judicial District Court Judge Steven Cranfill scheduled the trial in a Friday order, after Deputy Park County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Blatt asked the judge to set a date.

The trial is expected to last two weeks, wrapping up by Nov. 3, at the Park County Courthouse in Cody.

Investigators have alleged in court documents and testimony that Marquez agreed to kill the 30-year-old Guerra-Torres at the request of Pedro Garcia Jr., a family friend. Pedro Garcia allegedly told authorities that he sought out Marquez at the request of Sandra Garcia — Pedro Garcia’s sister and Guerra-Torres longtime partner. According to charging documents, Pedro Garcia told investigators that his sister told him Guerra-Torres had endangered their family by becoming deeply indebted to dangerous drug dealers.

By Pedro Garcia’s account, Marquez fatally shot Guerra-Torres in a pullout along Wyo. Highway 294 in Badger Basin, then dismembered his body with an ax and left it on a nearby dirt road.

For his part, Marquez has called the case against him as “hearsay from a meth-head” and has pleaded not guilty.

Marquez’s case had basically been at a standstill since last May. In the meantime, his two co-defendants reached deals with prosecutors.

Pedro Garcia pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aiding and abetting second-degree murder last month. As part of his plea deal, Garcia is in-line to receive a 25- to 40-year prison sentence. He likely will not be sentenced until after Marquez’s case is resolved.

Back in October, Sandra Garcia pleaded guilty to reduced counts of aiding and abetting manslaughter and accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. She received a 10- to 18-year prison sentence.

Both Garcias’ deals call for them to testify as witnesses for the prosecution.

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