Accused accessory in murder may plea

Plea negotiations, possibly dismissing an accessory to murder charge, are in the works for a Los Angeles man accused in connection with the shooting death of Juan Carlos Alegria.

Victor Rodriguez, 21, known to Carson City investigators as Steven Contreras, appeared in District Court on Tuesday with a handful of family members including his toddler daughter. He was scheduled to be arraigned on charges of accessory to murder and trafficking.

His attorney, William Routsis, asked that the case be continued until Dec. 14 to finish plea negotiations with Deputy District Attorney Tom Armstrong.

"We're trying to work out an agreement on this case," Routsis told District Judge Bill Maddox.

Armstrong was unavailable for comment.

Rodriguez is charged as an accessory for allegedly helping accused murderer Maximilliano Cisneros, 23, flee Carson City following the shooting death of Alegria and injury to Fidel Fuentes on May 25.

Investigators have said Alegria, 23, was an innocent bystander when Fuentes, 22, banged on the Eighth Street apartment door of his estranged girlfriend, Katie Armstrong. Cisneros allegedly emerged from the apartment and opened fire, striking Alegria and Fuentes, before fleeing.

Rodriquez was arrested for possession of marijuana about 11 a.m. the day of the shooting when police went to his Long Street apartment in the search for Cisneros.

He bailed out six and a half hours later and disappeared, said Sgt. Bob White.

Police believe he picked up Cisneros in west Carson City after the shooting and fled with him to Los Angeles.

A June 25 search of a storage unit rented in Rodriquez's alias netted a cache of weapons and methamphetamine and led to the arrest of Saul Cisneros, 21, Maximilliano Cisneros' brother. Rodriguez was arrested Aug. 11 when he allegedly returned to Carson City to collect the contents of the storage shed.

Police are still searching for Maximilliano Cisneros.

Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.