On June 26, 2015, Julio Gonzalez, a 37-year-old resident of Hobbs, New Mexico, was fatally shot, leading to a significant investigation and subsequent legal proceedings. The incident occurred at the 300 block of East St. Anne in Hobbs.
The primary suspect in this case is David Coelho, a 34-year-old resident of Hobbs. Coelho was initially charged with accessory to first-degree murder in connection to Gonzalez's death.
However, as part of a plea agreement, Coelho pleaded guilty to lesser charges. On February 8, 2017, he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, a third-degree felony, and felon in possession of a firearm, a fourth-degree felony, in the Fifth Judicial District Court in Lovington.
Coelho's plea agreement was part of a broader resolution involving multiple defendants. Alongside Coelho, two other individuals were also implicated in the crime. Christopher Cardenas, 33, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 19 years in prison. Erica Martinez, 29, another co-defendant, pleaded no contest to accessory to second-degree murder and was awaiting sentencing at the time of Coelho's plea hearing.
Coelho's sentencing was significant; he received six years in prison followed by two years of parole, all suspended except for the time he had already served, and an additional five years of supervised probation. For the second charge, he was sentenced to 18 months with one year of parole. The court also made a 'serious violent offense' finding, which requires inmates to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence. Coelho had admitted to three previous felony convictions in Curry County, including auto burglary, false imprisonment, and felon in possession of a firearm, as part of his plea agreement. These prior convictions could potentially lead to an eight-year enhancement on each count if he violated his probation.
Coelho's compliance with his probation was short-lived. Less than a week after his sentencing, he was arrested again on a warrant by Hobbs police for allegedly violating his probation. This arrest occurred on Monday, February 13, 2017, and Coelho was charged with probation violation, a fourth-degree felony. He was detained at the Lea County Detention Center. The probation violation hearing was set to determine whether Coelho would serve all or part of his suspended sentence, which could amount to seven and a half years or potentially longer if his prior felony convictions were considered.
In summary, the death of Julio Gonzalez led to the arrest and conviction of multiple individuals, with David Coelho being a key figure due to his initial charges and subsequent plea agreement. The case highlighted the complexities of sentencing and probation, particularly for individuals with prior felony convictions. Coelho's failure to comply with his probation terms led to further legal consequences, underscoring the strict conditions and potential severe penalties associated with probation violations.
