Man pleads no contest to 2019 Tulare County murder of teen, sentenced to 21 years in prison
TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- It was an emotional Tuesday morning as a Tulare County family faced the man convicted of murdering 16-year-old Ignacio Lemus in Alpaugh, back in 2019.
"My son was a good kid," recalls Ignacio's mother, Raquel Vazquez Lemus.
My son was a good kid.Raquel Vazquez Lemus, Ignacio's mother
Ignacio's family described him as a hardworking teen whose life was cut short.
"It's been tragic. I feel like no family member or person should go through what we are feeling right now or what we have been feeling for almost six years," expresses Claribel Hernandez, Ignacio's younger sister.
RELATED: Tulare County teens charged with murder of 16-year-old Ignacio Lemus
In June, Jesus Fernandez, who was 18 at the time of the crime, pleaded no contest to shooting and killing Ignacio. The plea meant no trial.
"There's what you can prove what you can, what you believe happened, what you can prove happened. And that was going to be a problem," explains Dave Alavezos, a Tulare County Chief Deputy District Attorney.
I feel like no family member or person should go through what we are feeling right now or what we have been feeling for almost six years.Claribel Hernandez, Ignacio's younger sister
In court on Tuesday morning, the convicted killer was sentenced to 21 years.
Fernandez also gave an apology to Ignacio's family, saying in part, "I'm sorry... it wasn't supposed to be like this, I know sorry is not enough."
Also in court was Vanessa Macias Velazco, who was 19 at the time of the crime and was convicted of accessory after the fact. She has completed her two-year prison sentence.
For Ignacio's heartbroken family, they will continue to carry the memory of their loved one in their hearts..
"I probably will forgive. Maybe not now, maybe not later, but I will forgive, and that all comes with time, respect and honor what people say," expresses Diego Vazquez, Ignacio's Brother.
Ignacio's brother, Carlos Hernandez, continues to say, "Hopefully, from what I believe, God is the real justice out there, and everything is based on him. God will there be justice."
The Tulare County District Attorney's Office says that because of state laws like Prop 57 and 47, Fernandez will likely not serve his full sentence.
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