Five Accused Of Odessa Homicide Likely Won't Face Death Penalty
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: March 24, 2011
ODESSA -- Five Odessa men accused of a double murder likely won't face lethal injection when they head to trial this fall.
Armando Sauceda, Francisco Mata Sauceda, Armando Sauceda Jr., Auden Sauceda and Moises Marquez Jr. are all facing murder charges for the June 2009 shooting deaths of Steven Soto and Jose "Chico" Gardea. Soto and Gardea were gunned down in the 1500 block of Anderson on June 4, 2009.
The defendants will stand trial in federal court later this year in Midland, but prosecutors won't be requesting the death penalty. The final decision on the death penalty will be made by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Armando Sauceda, Francisco Mata Sauceda, Armando Sauceda Jr., Auden Sauceda and Moises Marquez Jr. are all facing murder charges for the June 2009 shooting deaths of Steven Soto and Jose "Chico" Gardea. Soto and Gardea were gunned down in the 1500 block of Anderson on June 4, 2009.
The defendants will stand trial in federal court later this year in Midland, but prosecutors won't be requesting the death penalty. The final decision on the death penalty will be made by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
