A 26-year-old man indicted as part of Operation Sunny Day pleaded no contest Monday to a 2012 murder in East Palo Alto in a gang-motivated attack, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
Miguel Angel Rivera Jr., of Menlo Park, entered a no contest plea to second-degree murder in the death of Christopher Baker, prosecutors said.
Rivera was scheduled to stand trial Monday alongside co-defendant Jerry Coneal III, 22, whose case is moving forward before a jury for the next five to six weeks, the District Attorney’s Office said.
Baker, 21, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on Oct. 5, 2012 in the 2200 block of Terra Villa Avenue and pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
San Mateo County prosecutors said the fatal shooting was part of a gang retaliation attack.
As part of his plea deal, Rivera faces 35 years in prison, which would add on to his 14 years and four month sentence out of Santa Clara County for a total 49 years and four months in prison, prosecutors said. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 26.
