87 years in prison requested by the MP for the former mayor of San Marcos, Santa Bárbara, Pedro Aguilar
Aguilar faces charges of three murders, as well as leading a criminal organization.
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During the sentencing hearing , the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested on Tuesday to impose a sentence of 87 years of imprisonment for the former mayor of San Marcos, Santa Bárbara , Pedro Aguilar Orellana .
The spokesperson for the Judiciary, Lucía Villars, explained to tunota.com that the prosecuting body presented its request broken down: 23 years of imprisonment for the murder of Kevin Ariel Ruíz Ramírez, another 23 years for the murder of Guadalupe Milla Claros , and 28 years for the murder of Oscar Humberto Ramírez.
In addition, 13 years of imprisonment were requested for the crime of criminal association, which adds up to a total of 87 years in prison.
Villars also indicated that, in addition, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested a fine of 750,000 lempiras.
In contrast, Aguilar’s defense argued for the imposition of minimum sentences: 20 years of imprisonment for each of the murders and 10 years for the crime of criminal association.
Finally, Villars explained that the court hearing the case will announce in the next few days the date on which the sentencing hearing will take place, where the length of the sentence that Pedro Armando Aguilar Orellana must serve for the crimes of which he was found guilty will be established.
Details of the events
According to the proven facts, the accused was part of a criminal organization as its leader, which was in charge of committing murders in collusion with other subjects who belonged to this structure, with the purpose of planning and giving orders for the execution of several murders committed between the months of April and December 2019.
According to the information, former mayor Aguilar Orellana also provided this criminal gang with different types of firepower, ammunition, vehicles and money to carry out these criminal actions.
The former mayor was also presumed responsible for the death of citizen María del Carmen Castellanos, however, after the statements made during the Oral and Public Trial, the Court did not provide sufficient evidence for his participation in this murder, so he was acquitted of this crime.
Evidence
During the trial, the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes Against Life (FEDCV) presented more than 34 pieces of evidence showing that Aguilar led a gang known as “El Patrón.”
According to the prosecution, this criminal organisation controlled a network of hitmen and provided the means necessary to carry out the murders.
Research and its context
In September 2023, Operation Storm was carried out, a joint action by the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Organized Crime (Fescco) and the Technical Criminal Investigation Agency (ATIC), which managed to dismantle the criminal network led by Aguilar.
During this operation, 46 illegal assets were seized , including properties, vehicles and business companies associated with the former mayor.
The investigation carried out by the ATIC revealed that Aguilar acquired all these assets in a period of two years (2020-2022), as a result of illicit activities related to drug trafficking, human trafficking and contract killing.
In addition, strong ties were established with the Rivera Maradiaga brothers, known as “Los Cachiros” , as well as with the Mara Salvatrucha MS-13 .
Aguilar ‘s record also includes a 2016 charge of murdering his mother-in-law and two brothers-in-law, although he was provisionally acquitted on that occasion.
Aguilar was arrested on November 28, 2022 in San Marcos , Santa Bárbara, western Honduras.