Guilty plea in shooting of Brentwood teen

A Deer Park man who police say is a gang member pleaded guilty Wednesday to shooting and wounding a 13-year-old Brentwood boy playing basketball in a park two years ago.

Alexander Aguilar, 19, also admitted in Suffolk County Court to the murder of Edgar Villalobos in a separate case on July 20, 2009, in Brentwood.

The Brentwood teen, Wilson Batista Jr., who lost his right eye and suffered brain damage when he was shot at Timberline Park, leaned forward to listen as Aguilar entered his plea. Later, outside court, he said, "He got what he deserved."

Batista, who turns 15 on Saturday, said, "I feel good that he won't be on the street for a long time."

Aguilar pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for Villalobos' death and first-degree assault for shooting Batista.

He is expected to be sentenced to 21 years to life in prison for the murder and 21 years for the assault on Batista, to be served concurrently. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 8.

The shooting of Batista on June 15, 2009, became a rallying cry for community activists pressing for a crackdown on gangs in Brentwood. New lights and security cameras were installed at Timberline Park after the shooting.

Police said Aguilar is a member of the MS-13 street gang and shot Batista because he mistook the boy for a rival gang member.

The death of Villalobos, of Bay Shore, prompted an outcry after his body lay on Patton Street in Brentwood for nine hours before it was removed while police located homicide detectives. He was killed with a machete.

Aguilar's attorney, Jason Bassett of Central Islip, said he arranged the plea deal with State Supreme Court Justice Robert W. Doyle to avoid a longer prison sentence.

Prosecutors will ask Doyle for a stiffer sentence - 25 years to life for the murder and 25 years for the assault - said Robert Clifford, a spokesman for District Attorney Thomas Spota.

Batista walked with a cane as he left court because the shooting left him partially paralyzed.

Doctors had initially feared Batista would never walk again. "I'm doing better than they thought I was going to do," said Batista, who is in ninth grade.

His father, Wilson Batista Sr., said through a translator he was afraid Aguilar would be released from prison after serving the minimum 21 years.

But, the elder Batista "feels good because his child is healthy and it's closure," said Pedro Sanchez, a cousin.

Aguilar also admitted in court to being caught with a weapon fashioned from a plastic spoon last February while he was in Suffolk County jail in Riverside.