COLDWATER – A Florida man has been sentenced in the stabbing death of a man in Coldwater.
Branch County Circuit Court officials say 34 year old Raiko Moreira-Gonzalez was sentenced to 57 months to 15 years in prison Wednesday morning. He entered a plea of no contest to a charge of involuntary manslaughter as part of a plea agreement with the Branch County Prosecutor's Office. He had originally been charged with open murder.
Gonzalez was arrested on June 13, 2020, shortly after Coldwater Police were called to the Quality Inn. Officers found 35 year old Juan Uresti-Rodriguez of Texas, unresponsive in his room. He had been stabbed in the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Testimony during Gonzalez's preliminary hearing revealed both he and Rodriguez worked at Clemens Food Group and were living at the Quality Inn of Coldwater along with other employees of the pork processing business. Witnesses provided a description of Gonzalez, who had left the hotel. Michigan State Police spotted his car on U.S. 12 west of Quincy. Troopers took Gonzalez into custody and found evidence related to the stabbing in his car. Investigators say the two men had been drinking and got into an argument before Rodriguez was stabbed.
Court officials say Gonzalez was given credit for 438 days served.
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