Jose Morales Killing: Three Sentenced To Years In Prison

GRESHAM, OR – It's more than a year since Jose Morales was shot to death in Gresham. His family got a bit of closure on Thursday when three of the four people arrested in connection with his killing were sent to prison.

All three had pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

"No one understands how difficult this has been for me," Morales's mother said in a statement that was read for her in court. "I have to be strong for my children and haven't had the opportunity to grieve. …This whole process has been very painful and in fact, painful is too small of a word to describe the loss. …I was robbed of the opportunities to celebrate my son's accomplishments: to know my son as an adult, as an uncle, a father and as a husband."

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The three who were sentenced are:

• Cristian Martinez-Chavez, the shooter in this case, pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm. He received a 16 year prison sentence.
• Isai Guzman-Ramirez, the individual who obtained the rifle used to kill Mr. Morales, pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter in the first degree. He received a 14 year prison sentence.
• Obed Garcia-Antonio, the individual who drove the three other suspects, pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter in the second degree. He received a 6 year, 3 month prison sentence.

Francisco Martinez-Chavez is still awaiting trial.

Photo via Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.