Mario Trujillo criticized for alleged plea deal

DOWNEY — Mario Trujillo, Downey’s newest-elected city council member who works as a deputy district attorney, is being criticized for allegedly offering a plea deal of seven years in prison to a gang member accused of helping to kill another man in a case of mistaken identity. 

Rudy Dominguez, 24, was charged with murder for the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Fernando Rojo in South Los Angeles in 2016. Although he did not pull the trigger, authorities said Dominguez drove the vehicle in a drive-by shooting that killed Rojo, who was mistaken for another gang member.

Dominguez faced a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. FOX-11 obtained transcripts from a Dec. 15 court proceeding in which it’s alleged that Trujillo offered Dominguez a plea deal that consisted of seven years in prison.

The offer was later declared invalid at a subsequent hearing.  

Rojo’s family members, however, were outraged that such a plea deal was offered in the first place.

"We were blindsided by it first of all, we never even heard of anything,” the victim’s sister-in-law, Amy Rojo, told FOX-11 of Trujilo’s plea offer. “From what we knew, it was a preliminary hearing, them trying to get everything together, then all of a sudden, it’s kind of like, ‘Oh, there’s a 7-year plea on the table.’ Nobody even spoke to us. How is it that our loved one is worth seven years?" 

Trujillo, who was elected to the Downey City Council last month, delayed retirement to work alongside new L.A. County district attorney George Gascón who also was elected last month. 

A spokesperson for Gascón told the L.A. Times that no plea deal was offered.

In a statement to The Downey Patriot, Trujillo said he couldn’t comment on the specifics of the case.

“Thank you for this opportunity to address the rumors and accusations circulating in the media regarding an alleged ‘backdoor’ plea deal in an open case currently being prosecuted by the Hardcore Gang Division of my employer the District Attorney’s office of Los Angeles County,” Trujillo’s statement read. “I am not able to comment about the specifics of any case with pending criminal and legal investigations.

“These attacks against my professionalism, ethics and integrity are reminiscent of the various false narratives that were made against me during my campaign for Downey City Council. 

“I recognize that public scrutiny comes with the territory of being a public servant and an elected official. Still I continue to be steadfast in my oath and obligation to the residents of Downey to make sure all families are safe and healthy, our community is protected and our small business owners are supported. Simultaneously I will continue to represent the People of the State of California in pursuing Justice for ALL.”