Sep. 25—WILKES-BARRE — A Wilkes-Barre man made the choice in June when he opted for a trial before a Luzerne County jury instead of accepting the “best plea agreement.”
Luis Angel Soto Madera, 56, was acquitted earlier this week on a felony charge of aggravated assault and two misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment stemming from a shooting inside his Sambourne Street, Wilkes-Barre, house on June 20, 2023.
Court records alleged Madera was angry that his stepdaughter made a noise that awakened him and he fired a shot in the direction of the woman and her boyfriend.
The shooting resulted in a several hours standoff that involved troopers with the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team. When the house was breached, Madera was not inside resulting in police labeling him “armed and dangerous.”
Madera is not out of the clear just yet as he faces a firearm offense — illegal possession of a firearm, from the same incident.
Madera was presented with a plea agreement from prosecutors on June 18, which was described as the “best plea agreement.”
Madera rejected the plea offer and opted for jury trial, which was held Tuesday before Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr.
The jury deliberated for nearly 90 minutes before finding Madera not guilty on charges of aggravated assault and two counts of recklessly endangering another person.
Attorney James J. Scanlon represented Madera.
Madera’s next court appearance on the firearm offense is scheduled for Nov. 3.