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Almaraz found guilty by jury
Sentencing is slated for 9 a.m. Aug. 20 at Payette County Courthouse

Sunday, June 15, 2008 10:29 AM PDT

Katie Pizza - Argus Observer

Payette - Jurors in the Payette County murder trial of Hector Brito Almaraz returned a verdict, guilty of murder in the first degree, at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Payette County Courthouse, concluding a seven-week trial.

Almaraz, 28, also known as “Puppet,” was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the 2006 shooting death of Gabriel Flores, 28, at the Club 7 bar in Fruitland.

After closing arguments on Thursday, Judge Gregory Culet defined first-degree murder as a murder enacted with “malice aforethought.” This verdict means the jury decided the murder was premeditated.

Jurors took less than 24 hours to reach their decision. The courtroom was quiet, save for scattered, hushed whispers as the jurors filed into the courtroom. Upon request, Juror No. 221 handed a piece of paper to the bailiff, and Culet read aloud the verdict to the packed courtroom.


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Stephanie Flores, Gabriel Flores’ wife, raised her hand to her mouth as she cried almost silently. Culet asked defense attorney Van Bishop if he would like the jury polled on their decision. Bishop replied he would.

Each juror responded they had determined Almaraz to be guilty of first-degree murder.

Culet thanked the jurors for their work in the case and relieved them of their duties.

He then set a date for sentencing, slated for 9 a.m. Aug. 20. Bishop said Almaraz would like a sooner date, but Culet denied that request, stating there were other legal matters to attend to regarding the case before then.

“In every felony trial, pre-felony sentencing must be prepared,” prosecuting attorney Brian Lee said afterward.

Lee also said, in a case as severe as a murder trial, it often takes a great deal of time for the pre-sentencing report to be created.

Lee said the report will contain information about the facts and circumstances regarding the case in order to assist the judge in determining a sentence.

The trial began April 21, two years after Gabriel Flores was slain in the Fruitland nightclub.

The jurors saw myriad of witnesses and experts take the stand: from bar patrons to former gang members to current and former psychology professors and medical experts.

During the seven weeks of trial, jurors also heard from those closest to the two men, such as Flores’ wife and Almaraz’s father, sister and uncle.

The jury viewed autopsy photos and surveillance video taken from Club 7 and heard from the experts charged with explaining the evidence, in order to help them arrive at a decision. Jury members also learned how shirts are made and how a gun fires in an attempt to bring them closer to what went on in the early morning hours the day of the shooting.

Beyond all the testimony, they also traveled to the scene, walking through the area once filled with the shocked voices of those who had witnessed the gunplay. Then they reached their decision.

Lee expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

“Certainly this is the result we believe is appropriate,” he said.

Attorneys for the defense could not be reached for comment.

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Comment Blog - Note: All Comments Subject To Approval

s flores wrote on Jun 18, 2008 4:27 PM:

" I am so glad that my thoughts about the reporting on my husbands murder trial are not only mine. Thank You. "

i agree too wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:34 AM:

" This really was very sloppy reporting. I don't think I have ever followed such a one-sided case anywhere presented as such in the Argus. Perhaps the lack of experience? Wouldn't it have been much better for those involved and the community if there was accurate information being delivered through this publication? I sure hope there is going to be a little re-structuring after this disaster. "

really wrote on Jun 17, 2008 2:09 PM:

" At what point are you going to realize that the Argus reporter didn’t even get what her job was – and that she was so far skewed to the defense side it’s was sickening. Not only did she get it wrong on almost every story, she also only wanted to show the defense’s story. Nowhere is this more clear than on the headline on Sunday’s paper – after all the “space” the Argus gave the trial – so Katie could tell Hector’s side –they ran few inches next to stories that could’ve waited until any other day this week – facilities plans – are you kidding me?
I bet the story would’ve been bigger if a “not guilty” verdict had come in. Good thing the sloppy reporting doesn’t have anything to do with the verdict – or real justice. But I feel sorry for the witnesses, law enforcement personnel and the attorneys involved – the Argus completely misrepresented and disparaged these folks. "

Justice was Served wrote on Jun 17, 2008 7:40 AM:

" Well now that the trial is over and that the real “Shooter” Hector Almarez was found guilty I hope that Katie Pizza can learn a lesson from all this. During this whole trial it seemed that all she did was side with the Defense team.

She only reported half of what was said in court and when she mentioned the Prosecution team, it was not accurate with what was said in court. She never mentioned what was on any of the video that was shown in court, especially the one of Hector Almarez when he was interviewed in Ontario. In this video you see the officer excused himself from the room so he can get a Gun Shot Residue kit to see if Hector had fired a gun. As soon as the officer leaves the room you see Hector on the video start to lick his right hand and arm trying to wipe away thing he had on his arm. If he had not shot Gabriel, why was he trying to wipe away the evidence on his arm? Hector is GUILTY and should have been man enough to own up to what he had done, and not put the Flores Family through this two years of HELL they have gone through.

I believe Justice was served and that the right man was found Guilty. I understand that this may have been Katie Pizza’s first trial coverage, but she did not report accurately what was said and done in court. I hope this is a learning lesson for her and the Argus Observer. I hope that if this ever happens again that a well seasoned, unbiased reporter will be the one reporting. "

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