Four of the five defendants in the Jesus Avila murder case will be prosecuted as adults.
During a hearing Tuesday, Jovan Pecina was certified as an adult, joining Jordy Cornejo-Campoverde, Andrew Granado and Armando Nunez to be tried as adults if their cases go to trial. Alan Alanis is currently the only defendant to be tried as a juvenile, but prosecutors are working to get him certified as an adult for court proceedings.
Pecina will have a preliminary hearing in December.
All five were charged last month with a single count of first-degree murder with an alternate count of felony murder. They also face single counts of conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, arson and interference with law enforcement.
Avila’s body was found in a burned-out near Roads 160 and T in early September 2017.
