Jury convicts Roswell man in 2021 killing in Albuquerque

A jury convicted a Roswell man on Friday in the 2021 shooting death of 47-year-old Mario Delgado Jr. during what prosecutors described as a robbery-turned-killing in Albuquerque.

The first-degree murder conviction requires Jeffrey Contreras, 29, to serve at least 30 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.

No sentencing date has been scheduled before 2nd Judicial District Judge Britt Baca.

Contreras is scheduled for two additional trials in April and May in the deaths of two other men in Roswell in 2018 and 2021.

Prosecutor Jolanna Macias told jurors Monday that Contreras conspired with a woman to rob Delgado after the pair fled Roswell and found themselves in need of money. Contreras fatally shot Delgado in the course of the robbery, Macias told jurors.

Contreras’ co-defendant, Samantha Shull, 36, a witness in the trial, pleaded guilty last month in 2nd Judicial District Court to charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and tampering with evidence.

Shull faces up to 15 years in prison, according to her plea agreement. Her sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

Contreras’ attorney, Deidre Ewing, told jurors last week that Shull had received a “sweetheart deal” in exchange for her testimony and warned jurors to be skeptical of her testimony.

Shull had known Delgado from a previous relationship and set up a meeting with him that day at Delgado’s mobile home in the 8600 block of Zuni SE, prosecutors told jurors.

Police alleged that Contreras shot and killed 57-year-old Anthony Vasquez in Roswell on Feb. 5, 2021, just five days before Delgado’s killing. Contreras faces trial on May on charges of first-degree murder and other charges in Vasquez’s killing.

Contreras also is scheduled for trial April 28 on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and armed robbery in the 2018 killing of Johnny Pachecco Jr. in Roswell.