A JUDGE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS REFUSED TO RECONSIDER HIS DECISION TO THROW OUT A PLEA ARRANGEMENT FOR JESSICA KELLEY, ONE OF THREE PEOPLE CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF 10 YEAR OLD VICTORIA MARTENS. THE PLEA DEAL WOULD HAVE SENT KELLEY TO PRISON FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS AND REQUIRED HER TO TESTIFY AGAINST CO-DEFENDANT FABIAN GONZALES.
D-A RAUL TORREZ SAYS HIS OFFICE HAD INSISTED THAT KELLEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRIME, AND SERVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME IN PRISON. HE SAYS HE’S NOT WILLING TO NEGOTIATE A DEAL WHERE SHE DOESN’T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY OR SERVES LESS THAN 49-AND-A-HALF YEARS.
TORREZ SAYS NOT HAVING KELLEY TESTIFY AGAINST GONZALES WILL MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PROSECUTORS TO IDENTIFY AND PROSECUTE AN AS-YET UNNAMED FOURTH PERSON BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN VICTORIA’S DEATH.
