One man guilty; brother acquitted

A jury Monday night acquitted a 33-year-old man accused of the 2006 fatal stabbing of another man.

After a three-day trial in District Court, the jury found Tony Morales not guilty of murder with a deadly weapon and not guilty of robbery with a deadly weapon in the slaying of 27-year-old Jesse Cothron.

Tony Morales' brother, Thomas Morales, 31, was a defendant in the same trial. He was found guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and not guilty of robbery with a deadly weapon.

The jury deliberated for more than 16 hours.

"We're very pleased with the verdict and believe it's a correct verdict," said Christopher Oram, Tony Morales' attorney.

Tony Morales has been held at the county jail since he was arrested in connection with Cothron's death in November 2006. County jail records showed he was still in custody Tuesday afternoon on a charge of drug possession.

Authorities said the brothers visited Cothron's apartment the night of the slaying and spoke to him briefly before he was stabbed outside.

On Friday, Thomas Morales testified that Cothron attacked him that night. Morales told the jury he took a knife from Cothron and stabbed him.

In 1997, both brothers were arrested in connection with a botched robbery attempt where the victim was shot. Thomas Morales pleaded guilty to attempted robbery with a deadly weapon and battery with a deadly weapon and received two consecutive prison sentences of 22 to 90 months.

Tony Morales pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was sentenced to 20 to 90 months.

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.