Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
In April of 2012, then 19-year-old Rodney Scott was accused of murdering Ignacio Rebolloso at a birthday party both of the men were attending in Lansing. On Wednesday, April 10, Scott agreed to a plea bargain in front of Ingham County Circuit Judge William Collette. Scott pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of Rebolloso.
The incident occurred in the 1600 block of Martin Street, where it is alleged that the two men were among several dozen people in attendance at a birthday party. The two men became involved in a confrontation, and ultimately ended up outside where they got into a fight. According to police, the shooting took place outside during the course of the fight, which happened around 4 in the morning.
Before taking the plea deal, Scott had been charged with carrying a concealed weapon, felony firearm, and open murder. In exchange for his guilty plea to a charge of second-degree murder, prosecutors dropped the original charges.
Scott turned himself into police approximately one month after the shooting in 2012, due to what he called “mounting pressure of Lansing police detectives closing in on him,” according to a news article at Mlive.com.
Scott is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Collette on May 22.
As all Michigan homicide defense attorneys know, the penalties for second-degree murder can be just as harsh as those for first-degree murder. While a conviction on first-degree murders subjects the defendant to life in prison without parole, second-degree murder is punishable by any number of years to life in prison. While we don’t know what the altercation was about in Scott’s case or his motive for the shooting, it is always a tragedy to see someone so young potentially face his or her entire life behind bars.
If you or someone you know has been charged with first- or second-degree murder, homicide, or any serious or violent offense it is critical that you obtain the support and guidance of a skilled Michigan criminal defense lawyer.