Deadly robbery “lookout” gets probation, wants to join Navy or Marines
The man who acted as a lookout during a robbery that led to the death of Antonio Molina Jr. was sentenced Monday in Dona Ana County District Court.
Christopher Silva was sentenced to 18 months supervised probation and granted a conditional discharge. He pleaded no contest in August 2015 to one count of conspiracy to commit residential burglary and could have received 18 months in prison.
Back in February 2015, Silva and Joshua Jones attempted to break into a home on the 1600 block of Delano in south Las Cruces to steal marijuana. Silva was asked to be a lookout while Jones carried out the break-in.
When Jones jumped the fence of the home he was spotted by Antonio and Fernando Molina. The brothers chased Jones, who pulled out a gun and shot and killed Antonio. Fernando was wounded. Jones was sentenced to 13 years in prison in December 2016.
Monday, Silva told District Judge Fernando Macias he wants to join either the Marines or Navy but it was contingent on what happened in court. With the conditional discharge, there is no adjudication of guilt and at the end of the probation, the charges are dismissed.
Judge Macias called Silva’s action “an incredibly stupid and inappropriate decision.” The judge also mandated an immediate substance abuse assessment, in addition to standard conditions of parole.
