A Napa County jury acquitted a Santa Rosa man of murder and involuntary manslaughter in the fentanyl-related death of a 17-year-old Napa high school student but convicted him of six felony drug charges, prosecutors said.
Alan Jazeel Martinez, 25, was found not guilty Thursday in the death of Monica Flores, a senior at Vintage High School who was found dead in her Napa home on May 25, 2022, about two weeks before she was scheduled to graduate.
Prosecutors alleged that Martinez sold fentanyl-laced pills to Monica on May 10 and May 16, 2022. He also was accused of possessing and transporting fentanyl for sale, according to the Napa County District Attorney's Office.
The jury convicted Martinez of two counts each of selling fentanyl to a minor, possessing fentanyl for sale and transporting fentanyl for sale.
After the verdict, the court found true an allegation that Martinez has a previous strike conviction.
"Monica's family came to court seeking accountability for the loss of their daughter and loved one, and we know that no verdict can give them back what they have lost," Deputy District Attorney Katie Gross said in a statement. "Although we are disappointed that the jury did not find Martinez guilty of murder, we are grateful for the jury's careful consideration of this case and respect its decision. The convictions for selling fentanyl to a minor and possessing and transporting fentanyl for sale are significant, and we hope they provide at least some measure of accountability for conduct that contributed to a devastating loss."
Deputy District Attorney Agnes Dziadur said the jury had an "extraordinarily difficult task" and that prosecutors respected its role in the justice system.
Monica's family said in a memorial fundraiser that she loved her family, horses, dogs and the outdoors. She was also known for her pink car.
The district attorney's office filed murder charges against Martinez and Luis Fajardo Melgoza in 2023. Prosecutors said the case was the first in Napa County in which a supplier was charged with murder in connection with a fentanyl-related death.
A third defendant, Erika Garcia Chavez, was charged with conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance for sale.
Martinez is scheduled to return to Napa County Superior Court for sentencing at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 28.
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This article originally published at Napa jury acquits Santa Rosa man of murder in high school student's fentanyl death.