The third defendant in the Jesus Avila murder from 2017 learned his fate Thursday.
Jovan Pecina was sentenced to 22 years in prison, 205 months in prison for conspiracy to commit murder and 59 months for aggravated robbery. Pecina will also need to register as a violent offender for 15 years.
Pecina’s defense asked for the sentences to run concurrently, or simultaneously, instead of consecutively. However, Judge Jeff Larson said Pecina had opportunities to “withdraw from the criminal action” and did not do so — not when Avila was shot to death near Emporia in September 2017, not when he participated in moving Avila’s body inside the vehicle, not when he and others drove Avila’s car over a mile, not when he participated in a robbery and not when the car was set on fire.
Pecina pleaded no contest in August to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and aggravated robbery after initially being accused of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated robbery, arson, and interference with a law enforcement officer.
Several of Avila’s family members gave impact statements to Larson before Pecina’s sentencing. Avila’s father, Jesus Avila Galvin, said, “What torments me the most are the moments my son lived with a gun pointed at his head.” Avila’s younger sister, Linda Avila, said, “I can’t process how somebody my age could do something so evil.” Avila’s older sister, Mary Lou Avila Sadusky, added, “I taught that kid about God every Sunday at church…to me, that kid is unrecognizable.”
For his part, Pecina apologized several times, adding, “Nobody deserves to go through this pain. If I could take it back, I would.”
Pecina’s sentence follows the over 50 years in prison received by Samuel Garcia in August for second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and other counts and the four-plus years received by Armando Nunez last year for counts including attempted burglary.
Three more defendants await sentencing, including Andrew Granado at 2 pm Friday after a no-contest plea on conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and aggravated robbery. Jordy Cornejo-Campoverde pleaded no contest to aggravated robbery and interference with law enforcement. Alan Alanis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and arson along with a no-contest plea to aggravated robbery. Both are set for sentencing in separate hearings next month.
