Syracuse, N.Y. – A Syracuse man was found guilty of murder Tuesday afternoon but avoided a more serious charge that could have led to a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Vladimir Fernandez, now 26, was on trial for the murder of Tyus Ogletree, 27, who was killed inside a home he shared with his girlfriend and her children at 212 Sunset Ave. on Jan. 7, 2022. He was accused of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and other charges.
Ogletree was shot in the chest around 11:40 p.m. that winter night. His girlfriend called 911 in a panic minutes after she witnessed a man in a mask kick down their door.
When police arrived, Fernandez was found outside with a gunshot wound to his leg. Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case agree Ogletree likely shot Fernandez while he was outside the house. They disagreed on whether Fernandez was ever inside the home.
On Tuesday afternoon, a jury found Fernandez guilty of acting with his codefendant Junari Harold to kill Ogletree and break into the Sunset Avenue home. He was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree burglary. Harold pleaded guilty to second-degree murder before he was set to go to trial.
Fernandez was found not guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Since he was acquitted of the first-degree murder charge he no longer faces a potential sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The maximum sentence he could receive for the second-degree murder conviction is 25 years to life in prison.
Fernandez’s defense attorney Ken Christopher was able to shed doubt on the people’s theory that Fernandez alone kicked down the door of the home and opened fire at Ogletree.
During closing statements, Christopher said there was no evidence his client went into the home or possessed a gun that night. Christopher implied that Harold was the one who shot Ogletree that night and Fernandez believed they were going to the home for a drug deal and did not know about the murder.
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The jury agreed with Christopher that there was not enough evidence to place Fernandez in the house or a gun in his hand. However, they sided with the prosecution’s theory that both Harold and Fernadez went to the house intending to kill Ogletree that night.
Harold was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after an emotional court appearance on May 23.
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Fernandez is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23.
Ogletree is remembered as a passionate musician, a sports lover and a great hugger, his mom said at Harold’s sentencing.
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Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.