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SALT LAKE CITY — A man already serving time in the Utah State Prison for murder pleaded guilty Monday to killing his cellmate in February.
Mario Alfonso Lucero, 34, of St. George, was originally charged with murder, a first-degree felony, in the death of Julio Guerrero, 23. The two had been cellmates for one day, according to court records. The Utah State Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death was asphyxiation due to blunt force trauma to Guerrero's neck.
On Monday, Lucero, who is also known by the moniker "Temper," pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter, a second-degree felony, according to court records.
Third District Judge Mark Kouris sentenced Lucero to one to 15 years at the Utah State Prison, but ordered that the sentence run concurrent with his current sentence of up to 15 years that he received in 2014 for the prior murder conviction.
