By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — A Salisbury man will serve not less than 11 years after he pleaded guilty to the 2010 shooting death of his girlfriend at the Oakhurst Drive home they shared.
Denis Omar Funez-Flores, 28, accepted an Alford plea this morning to second-degree murder of Kendy Patricia Funez, 25, and was sentenced to a minimum of slightly more than 11 and a half years to a maximum of 15 years.
An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain his innocence while acknowledging prosecutors have sufficient evidence to obtain a conviction.
According to police reports taken during an interview with Funez-Flores and witnesses at the scene, the two argued prior to the shooting.
Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook read from law enforcement statements during the short plea hearing, which was held in superior court.
Funez-Flores first told investigators the two thought they heard someone poking around outside and he took his shotgun as he looked around the house. He said Kendy Funez walked toward him inside the master bedroom as he had the gun pointed. She pushed the gun away from her face and it “just went off.”
He later told Salisbury Police detectives the two argued prior to the shooting.
Kendy Funez was shot in the head area with a 20-gauge shotgun at close range.
The victim and Funez-Flores were also first cousins. Their uncle, Jose Funez, who was in court today, said he believed the shooting was an accident and asked that the court be lenient.
If Funez-Flores had gone to trial and been found guilty by a jury, the maximum sentence he could have received was 16 and a half years in prison and the least possible time was nearly eight years.
See Friday’s Post for more details.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.