Not Guilty Pleas Entered in Binghamton Murder Case

The Binghamton teen accused of shooting a man to death on Valentine’s Day in a drug deal that went wrong is pleading not guilty to murder.

19 year old Jonathan Garcia entered not guilty pleas March 14 to five felony counts in the death of 28 year old Jamaal Moses in the area of Lake Avenue and Merrill Street. Garcia is to stand trial August 8.

Following the shooting, Garcia fled the area and authorities alerted officials in Florida that the teen, who is Cuban descent, may be headed that way.  He was arrested by Federal Marshals and Miami Dade Police the next night and returned to Binghamton.

Garcia was indicted a week ago on two counts of murder, two counts of robbery and one count of criminal possession of a weapon before appearing in Broome County Court March 14.

The teen is facing 25 years to life in prison on the murder count.

He is currently being held in the Broome County Jail without bail.