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Second defendant pleads guilty in Freeport murder

BY ANN GIVENS | ann.givens@newsday.com

7:56 PM EDT, May 9, 2008

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The second of two men who shot an aspiring rapper in a case of mistaken identity last year has pleaded guilty to murder charges.

Jose Mendez, 17, of Freeport, admitted his role Friday morning in the death of Miguel Adames, 22, also of Freeport. Acting State Supreme Court Justice William Donnino agreed to sentence him to 20 years to life in prison in exchange for his guilty plea, Nassau prosecutors said.

The plea came just five days after Mendez's co-defendant, Maynor Murcia, 26, of Freeport, pleaded guilty to the same charges in exchange for the same promised prison sentence.

Mendez's attorney, Michael DerGarabedian of Rockville Centre, said the case was tragic from the beginning.

"This case confirmed my belief that whatever begins with anger ends with shame," said DerGarabedian.

Police said Murcia admitted shooting Adames in the head as he walked down a Freeport street.

Murcia and Mendez then continued to shoot Adames in the back while he was on the ground, police said.

Prosecutors say Murcia and Mendez both belong to MS-13 and were part of a gang plot to hunt down and kill their enemies. Adames, who was not in any gang, was not their intended target, prosecutors said.

Hours after Adames was killed, police said they found the guns used to kill him in a car driven by other gang members. Police believe they were planning to use the same guns to shoot other rivals.

"Now that the two men responsible for this execution are behind bars, I only hope that the victim's family finds some semblance of peace," Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice said, according to a spokesman.

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