Pleads Guilty to Gang Assault, Will Testify Against Friends
Riverhead (WALK) - More than a year after the death of Ecuadorean immigrant Marcelo Lucero, another Patchogue teen admitted his role in Lucero's death, and agreed to cooperate in the prosecution of the five remaining defendants.
Jose Pacheco, 18, of Patchogue pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree gang assault in connection with Lucero's death on November 8, 2008. Pacheco also pleaded guilty to fourth-degree conspiracy, and three counts of second-degree attempted assault as a hate crime for attacks against other hispanic immigrants.
In previous testimony Pacheco said he was just getting a ride home from friends on the night of Lucero's killing near the LIRR station in Patchogue. If convicted on the more serious charge, Pacheco faces five-to-25 years in prison. His next court date is January 4.
Last month another of the accused, Nicholas Hausche, 18, of Medford also pleaded guilty to first-degree gang assault, and fourth-degree conspiracy. He also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
One of the seven former Patchogue-Medford high school students, Jeffrey Conroy, is accused of stabbing Lucero to death.
