An Oconto County jury deliberated for about four hours Oct. 1 before finding Manuel Antonio Herrera-Hernandez guilty of shooting a Green Bay man to death in a remote area of the Town of Little Suamico.
Herrera-Hernandez, 37, formerly also of Green Bay, was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide in the Feb. 21, 2021, death of Miguel Gutierrez Palomera, as well as possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, felony bail jumping, and misdemeanor charges of possession of THC and bail jumping.
The panel of nine women and three men heard three days of testimony before Marinette County Judge James Morrison, who heard the trial in Oconto County Circuit Court.
Witnesses indicated that both Palomera and Herrera-Hernandez owed money to Francisco “Pancho” Cortez-Mendez, whom District Attorney Joshua Dryak described as a mid-level drug dealer who oversaw distribution in the Green Bay area.
Cortez-Mendez ordered Herrera-Hernandez either to extract payment from Palomera or kill him, according to special agent Denny Carroll, who testified about several interviews he conducted with the defendant.
Herrera-Hernandez and his then-girlfriend, Mara Vance, picked up Palomera on Feb. 21, 2021, and they drove to the parking area of the Green Bay Shores State Wildlife Area on Lade Beach Road, where the shooting occurred. A nearby resident discovered the body the next morning.
During closing arguments Oct. 1, District Attorney Joshua Dryak said that Palomera had been shot nine times, including two bullets found under his body, suggesting Herrera-Hernandez walked up to him as he lay on the ground and shot him two more times.
Although the defendant had claimed the gun went off as the two men struggled over the weapon, Dryak said the circumstances made it clear it was no accident.
“Agent Caroll talked about that Manny explained to him how Manny shot that gun and he kept shooting that gun till the slide locked to the rear and it was out of bullets,” Dryak said. “This isn’t an accident, this wasn’t a misfire, this is somebody who had a goal and set out to accomplish what he meant to do.”
For his part, defense attorney Russell Jones pointed to what he said were discrepancies between the physical evidence and the story as told by prosecutors.
For example, Vance testified that Herrera-Hernandez shot Palomera from the truck, inconsistent with the scenario that he stood over the body, Jones said.
“There are a lot of reasonable common-sense questions that the prosecution never answered,” he said.
Morrison scheduled sentencing for 1 p.m. Dec. 11. Herrera-Hernandez faces a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
Defense attorney Russell J.A. Jones states his case at the close of Manuel Antonio Herrera-Hernandez’s homicide trial Oct. 1 in Oconto County Circuit Court. (Warren Bluhm)
Manuel Antonio Herrera-Hernandez glances toward the gallery Oct. 1 while awaiting closing statements in his trial for the 2021 murder of Miguel Gutierrez Palomera. (Warren Bluhm)
Manuel Antonio Herrera-Hernandez awaits closing statements in his trial for the 2021 murder of Miguel Gutierrez Palomera. (Warren Bluhm)
