Other defendants face prison time for murder, drug, weapons, and rape charges.

A 2016 murder in Wilmington leads to life in prison for one of the men responsible, and more than 50 years for the second, who was a juvenile at the time of the fatal shooting. In March 2016, Wilmington police officers responding to a report of shots fired, found 22-year-old Christian Serrano in the 200 block of N. Connell Street with multiple gunshot wounds. A Superior Court judge sentenced Jose Moreta, 21, of Wilmington to life in prison plus 24 years for his January 2018 jury conviction to charges of Murder First Degree, 3 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy First Degree, Attempted Murder First Degree, Reckless Endangerment First Degree, Criminal Trespassing First Degree, and Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon. Joshua Gonzalez, 19, of Wilmington, who was 17 when the shooting took place, was sentenced to 55 years and 6 months in prison for his conviction of Murder First Degree, 3 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Juvenile), Attempted Murder First Degree, Reckless Endangering First Degree, Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon, and Conspiracy First Degree. Deputy Attorneys General Joe Grubb and William Leonard secured the sentences. Detective Robert Fox of the Wilmington Police was the Chief Investigative Officer, with DOJ paralegal Jaime Prater, social workers Evelyn Smith and Jen Kutney, and special investigator Guillermo Santiago assisting with the case.

A 24-year-old Wilmington man pled guilty to murder, weapons, and robbery charges for killing a storeowner while attempting to rob the victim’s business. Deputy Attorneys General Daniel McBride and Kate Butler secured the plea from Devonte Dorsett. In January 2017, Dorsett and a 14-year-old accomplice went into the Lancaster Market in the 100 block of North Clayton Street in Wilmington, aimed a gun at 64-year-old Santanu Muhuri, and demanded cash. A struggle ensued during which Dorsett shot Muhuri once on the head. Dorsett pled guilty to Murder Second Degree, 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony and Robbery First Degree. Dorsett faces 24 years to life in prison when sentenced by a Superior Court judge in September. Detective Mackenzie Kirlin of the Wilmington Police Department and DOJ paralegal Stacey Coupe and social worker Donna Lindsay also worked on the case. Dorsett’s juvenile accomplice pled guilty in February 2018 in Family Court to Criminally Negligent Homicide, Robbery First Degree, and Conspiracy Second Degree. A Judge sentenced him to 3 years in a juvenile detention facility followed by an aftercare program. The judge also extended jurisdiction over the juvenile until age 21 at the State’s request, and will assess the defendant’s situation after his 19th birthday to determine the remainder of his sentence.

A 38-year-old Wilmington man will spend the next 12 years in prison after his guilty plea to drug and weapons charges. In March 2017, Allan Prince and another man, Marshall Person, worked together to sell heroin, not knowing they made a sale of more than 9 grams to an undercover State Trooper. After the sale, police obtained a search warrant for the homes of both defendants and found two loaded guns. Prince pled guilty to Drug Dealing Tier 4 Heroin and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited and was immediately sentenced by a Superior Court judge to 12 years in prison followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 18 months of probation. Person, 37, of Wilmington, pled guilty in November 2017 to 2 counts of Drug Dealing Tier 4 Heroin and one count of Conspiracy Second Degree, and was sentenced the following month to 4 years and 30 days in prison, followed by 18 months of probation. Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rigby prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegals Jessica Ascione and Meredith Parkinson, and administrative assistant Valerie Rocha.

A Wilmington man, already registered as a sex offender due to a prior conviction, has pled guilty in Superior Court to Rape Second Degree. Deputy Attorney General Jan van Amerongen secured the plea from 32-year-old Earnest Richardson. In October 2016, Richardson raped a 15-year-old girl. Richardson faces 10 to 25 years in prison when sentenced by the Court in August.

Print