Jury finds Jan Michael Nieves guilty of Manslaughter

UPDATE: Jan Michael Nieves was found guilty of two counts of Manslaughter Thursday. Sentencing is scheduled to begin later Thursday afternoon.

There was chaos in the courtroom as the clerk initially read the wrong verdict. Both the victim’s families were inside the courtroom and gasped as the incorrect “not guilty” verdict was read. She was quickly corrected by Judge Marcos Lizarraga who then read the “guilty” verdict.

Nieves still faces the same punishment, which is 2-20 yrs for each count. Sentencing was scheduled to begin Thursday afternoon.

ORIGINAL: Deliberations began Wednesday in the Jan Michael Nieves trial, but a jury was unable to reach a verdict before the end of the day. The jury was sequestered for the evening and will resume deliberations Thursday. Nieves is accused of driving drunk, crashing into a construction site and killing two workers in 2014.

Both sides presented closing arguments Wednesday before the jury began deliberating. Judge Marcos Lizarraga said he expected them to be deliberating all night.

The defense claimed a lack of barricades, lighting and a police officer asleep on duty at the on ramp that night were all factors. They argued Nieves was confused and didn’t know he was driving into a construction site. The defense also said there was unreliable testimony from several witnesses including the police officers who took the stand.

Once the prosecution took the stand, several family members broke out in tears and excused themselves from the courtroom as the state described the men’s final moments, saying the two workers went to the site that day not knowing they would be killed.

Prosecutors also argued the defense was pointing fingers and looking to shift the blame onto everyone but Nieves. They asked the jury to find him guilty on both counts of intoxiated manslaughter.

Nieves faces up to 40 years in prison if found guilty.