2019-11-22

Potter County jury convicts Navarrete of Rene Soto murder | KVII

Excerpt

Gregorio Moreno Navarrete will spend the next 70 years behind bars after a Potter County jury convicted him of murdering Rene Soto in 2018. Prosecutors said Navarrete drove to the victim's house and shot from the street as Soto was in his doorway. After a period as a fugitive, Navarrete was captured and charged with the murder. During the trial, the defense contended that the shooting was in self-defense. This however did not convince the jury, who returned a guilty sentence for the slaying.

POTTER COUNTY, Texas (KVII) — Gregorio Moreno Navarrete will spend the next 70 years behind bars after a Potter County jury convicted him of murdering Rene Soto in 2018.

Prosecutors said Navarrete drove to the victim's house and shot from the street as Soto was in his doorway.

After a period as a fugitive, Navarrete was captured and charged with the murder.

During the trial, the defense contended that the shooting was in self-defense.

This however did not convince the jury, who returned a guilty sentence for the slaying.

After the state presented prior convictions and a pending aggravated assault charge during the sentencing phase, the jury sentenced him to 70 years in the Texas state prison system.

Navarette was one of two indicted for the murder during grand jury deliberations last November, along with Saul Gallegos.

Two others, Chad and Amanda Walker, were already in custody in connection with Soto's killing.