A San Antonian who told police he accidentally shot a fellow gang member in the head while playing with a gun as they celebrated a friend's release from juvenile detention agreed Thursday to a 25-year prison sentence.
Michael Juarez, 31, pleaded no contest to manslaughter in the March 2010 slaying of Johnny Trevino Jr., 17, at a home near Jefferson High School. Juarez initially was arrested on a charge of manslaughter, but a year later police enhanced the count to felony murder — a designation in which intent to kill is not necessary.
A person can be charged with the offense if a death is caused in the course of committing a felony — in this case, felon in possession of a firearm.
That's a helluva sentence for an unintentional shooting. Often we see lawful gun owners who do something like this receive a slap on the wrist with a warning to be more careful. Does it seem right that a disqualified person should receive so much more?
Sentencing disparity is one of the big problems facing gun control advocates. The whole thing needs to be regularized.
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