Crime & Safety
Man Pleads Guilty to Depraved Heart Murder in Gaithersburg Hit-and-Run Death
Police said the Damascus resident ran one man down with his car, targeted another.
A Damascus man has pleaded guilty to second-degree depraved heart murder in connection to the December hit-and-run death of a Potomac man in Gaithersburg, the Montgomery County State's Attorney's office said.
"Depraved heart murder is the reckless action and wonton disregard for human life that a defendant takes or has towards another," according to a release from the State's Attorney's office.
Fernando Josue Valenzuela, 20, of the unit block of Valley Park Court in Damascus, faces up to 20 years in prison. Under the plea agreement, he will not be tried on the original charges of one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder.
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In March, 34, of the 12600 block of Tobytown Drive in Potomac. Police said Valenzuela ran Genies down with his car near 211 W. Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg. Valenzuela also targeted Genies' brother, James R. Genies, who is now 35, police said.
Valenzuela will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 1, by Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge David A. Boynton.
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