Calexico man charged with murdering girlfriend not going to trial after pleading no contest

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) - The man charged with murdering his girlfriend in Calexico last year will not be heading to trial after accepting a no-contest plea deal.

48-year-old Agustine Baca III was originally charged with first degree murder.

Now he will be charged with second degree murder and could receive 15 years to life in prison.

Baca's attorney says there were some defensible issues in the case and mitigating factors regarding the weapon used during the murder.

She says one theory is that the gun may have gone off accidentally due to the weapon’s condition.

“The firearm was in a very poor condition missing some key parts and I am not an expert myself on firearms but my investigator is," said Veronica Henderson, Baca's attorney.

Baca is scheduled to back in court to be sentenced next month.