Hudson Valley Man Jailed for Killing Wife’s Boyfriend in Front of Child
A Hudson Valley man was sentenced for the cold blood killing of his wife’s new boyfriend in front of a child. The deceased man is credited with saving the child's life.
On Friday in Sullivan County Court, 25-year-old Monticello resident Carlos Serrano, who has also gone by the names Carlos Serrano Valentine and Jay Menor Serrano, was sentenced to 25-years to life for the murder of Juan Medina. The term of the sentence is 15 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision for criminal possession of a weapon and two to seven years in prison for reckless endangerment. All sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
According to court documents, on June 28, 2016, Serrano approached the porch at 62 Park Avenue in Monticello and opened fire on 28-year-old Medina. Medina was Serrano’s estranged wife’s new live-in boyfriend.
"Juan Medina, wasn't shot once, he wasn't shot twice, he was shot three times by this defendant in a ruthless and violent manner,” Sullivan County District Attorney Jim Farrell said. “Serrano wanted to make sure he killed his victim, and he did not care who he killed or hurt in the process when he opened fire on a porch when three other people were present, including an 8-year-old child."
According to the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, three witnesses, Serrano’s estranged wife and two neighbors identified Serrano as the murder immediately after the murder and during the trial.
One of the witnesses’ 8-year-old daughter was on the porch during the shooting. The mother testified that in his final act before dying, Medina grabbed her daughter and got her out of the line of gunfire, likely saving her daughter’s life.
"Serrano set out to kill Juan Medina, in cold blood, and committed this act in broad daylight, without care of who saw him, and without care for who he could have killed in the process,” Farrell said. “Anyone of the other three people on the porch, including the 8-year-old child, could have been killed. Serrano belongs behind bars for the rest of his natural life, as he is a clear and present danger and violent threat to our community.”
In February, Serrano was found guilty of murder, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment. Two relevant text messages connected Serrano to the murder.
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