Jessica Kelley enters into plea deal, avoids trial in Victoria Martens case (with clip)
"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- Jessica Kelley entered into a plea deal, pleading no contest to six charges related to the death of 10-year-old Victoria Martens.
In the process, she avoided going to trial.
The charges included child abuse resulting in death, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit tampering and three counts of tampering with evidence.
Multiple rape charges were dropped by the district attorney’s office Friday. According to Kelley’s defense attorney, the charges were dropped after it was concluded, by multiple experts, Victoria Martens was not raped on the night she was murdered.
After the judge accepted the plea deal, Bernalillo County District Attorney Raúl Torrez held a press conference and Kelley faces up to 50 years in prison. However, Kelley's defense attorney, Mark Earnest, said his client would spend about 20 years in prison, with good behavior....
As part of the plea deal, Kelley is required to cooperate with the investigation surrounding her cousin Fabian Gonzales and testify at his trial. She is also expected to cooperate into the continued investigation into a fourth unknown suspect....
Gonzales' is awaiting a ruling from the New Mexico Court of Appeals about evidence in the case before a trial date is set."
Jessica Kelley enters into plea deal, avoids trial in Victoria Martens case
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