Defendant tries to declare mistrial

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – A jury deliberated less than four hours before convicting Juan Carlos Fuentes Pina of first-degree murder in the Nov. 29 slaying of Jesse J. Naranjo.

Shortly after the jury began deliberations on Thursday, Pina, 32, tried to get 5th District Court Judge G. Richard Bevan’s attention. “Mistrial, your honor,” Pina said. The Times-News reported Bevan appeared not to notice.

“Your honor, mistrial,” Pina said louder until he had Bevan’s attention. Court security then began escorting Pina from the courtroom. Pina faced his lawyers and Bevan and declared, “You guys are prejudiced.”

Naranjo, 33, died after being shot in the abdomen with a shotgun by Johnny A. Shores in a residence that Twin Falls police described as a drug house. Shores, 17 at the time, pleaded guilty on June 14 to voluntary manslaughter.

Pina was charged with first-degree murder because authorities said he was involved in kidnapping Naranjo. Under Idaho law, a person who initiates a kidnapping can be held responsible for first-degree murder if it is committed during the kidnapping.

Pina faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. His pre-sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 22.

During the trial, Shores testified that he saw Pina holding a shotgun over Naranjo, who was on his knees. He said that Pina gave him the gun and that Naranjo jumped up and tried to take it.

Shores testified he wound up with the shotgun while Pina and Naranjo continued to fight, and that he fired without aiming.