25-Year Sentence for Drug-Related Ax Murder
By Cecilia Green
Published on October 27, 2005
James Gunderson of Minnesota pleaded guilty to intentionally killing David Hinojosa Junior with an ax on a gravel road in December. The 22-year-old Gunderson was sentenced to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder.
John Cooper, 26, who was present at the time Hinojosa was killed, pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder. Cooper may receive a 20-year sentence.
Cooper claims the murder resulted from a dispute over $60 that Hinojosa allegedly took during the botched drug deal.
The judge who sentenced Gunderson felt a 25-year prison sentence was not sufficient punishment for the crime. However, 25 years was the maximum sentence he could give according to Minnesota state law.
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