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SALT LAKE CITY — A small group of about 15 people gathered outside the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office on Thursday afternoon to protest a plea deal they think is letting the man who admitted to killing their relative and friend off "too easy."
Dean Belov, brother of David Stokoe — a South Jordan real estate agent who was shot and killed in January 2019 — said he thinks the gunman, and others who were there, are getting away with murder. He expressed frustration and disappointment that multiple charges, including one for desecration of his brother's body, were just dropped.
"Trust me, this plea deal is a bad deal for everyone," Belov said.
He said the plea happened quickly, and although a previous offer was discussed with him, the offer that was ultimately accepted was not.
Manuel Velasquez, 35, pleaded guilty on Sept. 21 to manslaughter, admitting to shooting and killing Stokoe, who was visiting one of his own rental properties where Velasquez had been staying along with others.
The plea deal reached this week dismissed multiple charges: two counts of firing a gun and causing serious injury, a first-degree felony; obstructing justice, a second-degree felony; possession of a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony; and, abuse or desecration of a body, a third-degree felony.
It also modified a charge for murder to manslaughter, citing a law that allows this to happen if the defendant acted "under a reasonable belief that the circumstances provided a legal justification or excuse." This likely means Velasquez had some support for an argument that he had a reasonable belief his actions were self-defense.
Salt Lake District Attorney Sim Gill said it would be inappropriate for him to comment about the protest or plea deal on Thursday, since the case is still pending sentencing.
Stokoe's wife, Nicole Stokoe, said she agrees with the plea deal. She said in a statement she does not support the protestation of family members.
"We understood the limitations of the evidence in the case. It's time for myself and children to move forward, to honor the outstanding man Dave was and act in a kind, educated, positive manner, as he would," she said.
Stokoe said the district attorney's office worked diligently on the case to find a solution they agreed with and understood, and she asked for privacy while she and her children continue healing and mourning for their husband and father.
Belov said there is now just one charge, manslaughter, up for discussion at the sentencing for Velasquez scheduled for Nov. 22. It's a word he says doesn't tell much of his late brother's story.
The expected sentence for the manslaughter charge would be between one and 15 years in prison. Belov said, under the plea deal, it could be possible for a judge to sentence Velasquez only to time he's already served.
"That doesn't sit well with us at all," he said.
Belov said he didn't want his brother's story to get lost in the system, buried under a single charge and sentence, which could lead to an earlier release for Velasquez. That's why he invited friends, neighbors and coworkers of Stokoe to join him in Thursday's protest.
While he knows it's likely too late for any changes to be made in this case, he is hoping to raise awareness of the issue for other cases where plea deals are happening when other victims' families don't agree.
"We feel that this is going bad, and it's gone bad," Belov said. "We just can't let this go, we can't not say something."
