VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) — A 23-year-old Hammond man has pleaded guilty to killing two people just outside of Valparaiso in 2012 while attempting to steal marijuana.
The Times of Northwest Indiana reports Julius Garza faces a 45-year sentence if the proposed plea agreement is accepted by Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper during a sentencing hearing Nov. 9.
He said little while pleading guilty to two counts of murder for the shooting deaths of 40-year-old Jeffery Trinka of Valparaiso and 31-year-old Jennifer Guinn of Hammond.
Defense attorney Larry Rogers says Garza decided to plea because he faced 90 to 130 years behind bars if found guilty at trial.
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The Porter County prosecutor has failed on this case. With good time plus jail time served, this killer could be out in about 22 years. Aren’t two peoples lives worth more than that?