Disparity in sentencing

Tucson woman given 6 years for role in drug-related killing

Story By Kim Smith Arizona Daily Star
Friday, March 26, 2010 8:59 am

Pima County Superior Court Judge Deborah Bernini sentenced a 36-year-old Tucson woman to six years in prison Friday for her role in the July shooting death of a suspected drug dealer.

Eva Macias, 36, pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in Rosendo Ortega's death in January and had been facing between four and eight years in prison.

Ortega, 20, died after Macias and her sister, Alma Trinidad Huizar, 25, decided to rob Ortega of his drugs, things went awry and he was shot to death by Michael Haro.

Macias told Ortega's family she prays every night for God to give them comfort and she hopes they'll be able to forgive her someday.

Earlier this week, Haro, 21, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case. Angelica Leon was placed on four years probation for conspiracy to commit robbery. Huizar is serving six years for negligent homicide and Ahbram Avalos, who gave Ortega the drugs, is serving five years on a drug charge.