Murder charges dropped for Pasco teen

Charges against a Pasco teen were reduced Thursday from murder to assault Thursday in connection with the 2015 gang-related death of a man in the parking lot of Fiesta Foods in Pasco.

Abraham Barajas, 16, pleaded innocent in Benton-Franklin Juvenile Court to the amended charges of first-degree assault and first-degree rendering criminal assistance.

He was originally charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for his role in the death of Juan C. Melgoza, 42.

His co-defendant, Chris Pedroza-DeSantiago, 20, is charged as an adult in Franklin County Superior Court with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree unlawful gun possession.

After the hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Kim Kremer declined to say why Barajas’ charges were reduced. However, she told a judge this past week that she and defense attorney Karyn Oldfield had come to an agreement to keep the case in Juvenile Court.

At that time, court officials said Barajas was likely to plead guilty and face four to five years in a state juvenile institution. That means Barajas could be locked up until his 21st birthday.

Prosecutors allege Barajas and Pedroza-DeSantiago, who belonged to the same gang, met on Feb. 4, 2015, and agreed to kill Melgoza for wearing red, the color of a rival gang.

The two suspects argued until Pedroza-DeSantiago used a .40-caliber pistol to shoot Melgoza as he yelled his gang’s name.

Barajas, who was 15 at the time, told investigators he participated because he needed to “put in work” for his gang or face being kicked out and beaten up.

He remains at the juvenile justice facility in Kennewick. Pedroza-DeSantiago is being held in the Benton County jail. His trial is May 9.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 7:20 PM with the headline "Murder charges dropped for Pasco teen."