Date: 07-23-2014

Case Style: United States of America v. Jorden Medina

Case Number: 1:13-cr-04066-JB

Judge: JB

Court: United States District Court for the District of New Mexico (Bernalillo County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Paul H. Spires

Defendant's Attorney: John Van Butcher - FPD

Description: ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Jorden Medina, 54, a non-Native man who resides in El Prado, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning to a federal involuntary manslaughter charge.

Medina was arrested on Dec. 2, 2013, on a criminal complaint charging him with killing a 28-year-old Taos Pueblo man on Nov. 30, 2013. Medina subsequently was indicted on Dec. 17, 2013, and charged with second degree murder.

During today’s plea hearing, Medina pleaded guilty to an information charging him with involuntary manslaughter and admitted shooting the victim at a gas station located in Taos Pueblo. In his plea agreement, Medina stated that he was putting fuel into his truck when the victim physically attacked him, knocking him to the ground. Medina responded to the attack by retrieving a pistol from his truck and firing a single bullet at the victim and killed him.

Medina is in federal custody and will remain detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Medina faces a statutory maximum penalty of eight years in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

The case was investigated by the Santa Fe office of the FBI and the Northern Pueblos Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services, with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety, Town of Taos Police Department and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers is prosecuting the case.

Outcome: Non-Native Taos County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Involuntary Manslaughter Charge Arising out of the Death of Taos Pueblo Man

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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