The final phase of justice for 44-year-old Maderan Gerald Fontes, beaten to death nearly two years ago, was again delayed Thursday as the sentencing for a man prosecutors say helped hide his body in Mariposa was pushed back two more weeks.
Merced resident Richard Mirelez, 36, was arrested along with Jose Jimenez, 42, from Mariposa and 29-year-old Maderan Patrick Lozano in relation to Fontes’ death.
Last March, Jimenez — with prior convictions for felony rape and criminal threats — pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of assault with a deadly weapon in exchange for 20 years in prison.
Last month Lozano also struck a plea agreement with prosecutors for four years of jail time. His lesser sentence, prosecutors said, was due to his status as a witness to the murder — he never participated in it or in hiding Fontes’ body...