Driver sentenced to 6 years in Downtown-area shootings

Austin Crespin was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison for his role in a 2020 incident in which a group sprayed gunfire inside an Albuquerque home, killing one man and seriously injuring three others.

An argument between two youths over music led to the shootings, attorneys told jurors in earlier trials.

Gunfire killed 38-year-old Jeff Baca and seriously injured a woman and two teenage girls on March 14, 2020, at a house in the 600 block of Arno SE, near Broadway and Coal.

Crespin, 28, pleaded no contest last month to three counts of harboring or aiding a felon and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to his plea agreement.

A 2nd Judicial District Court jury failed to reach a verdict in September 2022 when Crespin was tried for first-degree murder and six other felony charges in connection with the shootings.

In Crespin’s trial, prosecutors alleged that he drove a van to a house near Downtown Albuquerque where five youths barged inside and fired dozens of gunshots. Crespin also served as the getaway driver after the shootings, prosecutors said.

Crespin’s attorney responded that the prosecution’s case hinged on testimony of a codefendant who instigated the attack and received a favorable plea deal in return.

That codefendant, Anthony Lopez, testified that earlier that evening, he was told to leave a party at the house after he argued with one of the girls about music.

Lopez then called a group of friends who decided to return to the house with weapons, he told jurors.

Criminal cases for Lopez and other codefendants charged in the shootings remain in various stages.

• Lopez, 23, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and other felonies and faces up to 22 years in prison. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.
• Nathaniel Hernandez, 22, was found guilty by a jury in February 2022 of first-degree murder, attempted robbery and other charges and was sentenced to life in prison.
• Nathan Peco, 20, was convicted by a jury in June on two counts of aggravated battery and other felonies. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.
• Alex Vallejos, 23, was acquitted by a jury in February of first-degree murder and other crimes.