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SALT LAKE CITY — A West Valley City man pleaded guilty on Monday to murdering a handyman who had been working a site near his home.
Jesus Adolfo Valdez Jr., 34, is guilty of murder, a first-degree felony. As a result of a plea deal, three charges were dismissed, including discharge of a firearm, a first-degree felony; and one charge of possession of a weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony.
On May 28, 2020, West Valley Police responded to the scene of a shooting and found handyman Melbin Martinez, 39, with three gunshot wounds. Medical officials determined Martinez died at the scene.
A witness told police she saw Martinez on the ground and Valdez riding away on a motorcycle, according to a press release from the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.
Officers found a gun in a nearby vehicle matching shell casings found at the scene, with DNA matching Valdez.
The press release states a motive for the murder "was never determined," but officers at the time of the incident said Valdez had previously complained about the noise of the work Martinez was doing. Valdez's father reported earlier that day his son had broken a television and bedroom door after becoming angry with his father's wife.
When the father came home, he yelled at Valdez, who had been breaking the items into smaller pieces so they could fit in the garbage can. The district attorney's office said the father saw his son pacing between the carport and the backyard and later saw him leaving on his motorcycle.
Valdez was arrested the day after, in Salt Lake City.
"We mourn the loss of Melbin Martinez at the hands of the defendant and hope this conviction provides some measure of justice for his family and loved ones. We appreciate the cooperation of the family of the defendant that helped ensure accountability in the death of Mr. Martinez, an innocent handyman with no connection to the defendant besides working next door," Salt Lake County Attorney Sim Gill said.
Valdez is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 20.
The plea deal also dismissed charges against Valdez in two other cases filed while he was in custody — transporting or possessing prohibited items at the Utah State Prison, a class A misdemeanor, and assault by a prisoner, a third-degree felony.
