Hillsborough: Cooperation doesn't earn lenient sentence

TAMPA - First, Garrett Marc Nunes did something terrible: He helped rob and kill another teenager during a drug deal.

Then he did something good: He confessed his role and led detectives to the triggerman.

But the right didn't erase the wrong, and on Monday a jury found Nunes guilty of first-degree murder, armed robbery and arson. A judge sentenced the 21-year-old Brandon man to consecutive life prison sentences without parole.

Nunes' attorney and parents said the case is the result of a runaway justice system.

In September 2003, then-17-year-old Nunes was riding in the back of Eric Michael Harris' car to complete a drug deal. Authorities say Nunes and another passenger, 19-year-old Pablo Sandoval, robbed Harris of cocaine and a wallet before Sandoval shot him twice in the neck. Sandoval has not yet gone to trial.

Harris, 19, was dead when the teens doused him and his red Toyota with gasoline and Nunes set the car on fire.

Nunes, encouraged by his parents and attorney Caroline Tesche, helped authorities break the case. His parents allowed their home to be searched and bugged.

Nunes refused a 30-year plea offer from prosecutors before the trial. His attorney said it was unjust for a young man who had been so cooperative.

"He was taken advantage of unfairly by the system, and we will appeal," Tesche said. "What kind of message does this send to people about telling the truth?"

Nunes' supporters have created Florida Families for Fair Sentences. It is advocating bills that already had been introduced in both chambers of the state Legislature that would make parole an option for children 15 and under who are charged as adults and sentenced to life in prison. It hopes to get that age limit increased to 18.

Assistant State Attorney Jalal Harb said detectives never promised Nunes leniency.

"It's a legal sentence," Harb said. "He decided to play with the big boys, the bottom line is."

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by Jim	10/24/07 04:39 AM
I have known Mitch and his family for nearly twenty years. It is PURE ignorance for Dean to say Mitch threw his kid away. The contrary is fact and the truth. Mitch had Garrett in a boot camp style reform school and had him involved in church.

by N	05/25/07 09:21 PM
Harb,says it's a legal sentence.How about grace,mercy,decency,justice? Kids in jail for life.Harb how could you know what you know about this case and live with yourself?Twisting,turning facts,using half truths.Legal does not make it Just.Outrageous!

by W	04/26/07 09:55 PM
1Dead teenager,2teenagers in prison for life,3families damaged.Blame,anger revenge doesn't help anyone,Forgiveness does.Redeem these lifes.Help these boys not spend life in prison that is simply wrong.Serve time yes, but30yrs??life??What are we doing

by Billy	04/03/07 01:54 PM
Alright, I get it LISA, you were Garrett's friend. I know how ones sense of loyalty can cloud the true facts of a situation. I also know that nothing anyone says will change that. Believe me when I say that Mark knows EXACTLY what he's talking about.

by Mark	04/01/07 02:33 PM
Because some of us have heard all the evidence, and someone blathering at me in AOLspeak is the last who should comment on my reading comprehension. Garret may have been a minor but the crime he committed was one of the most serious in our society.

by LISA	04/01/07 09:20 AM
OK THIS ONE IS TO MARK... WHERE DO U GET THAT "THE OTHER PERSON IN THE CAR" SAID THAT GARRETT WAS THE SHOOTER I DONT THINK U KNOW WHAT U ARE TALKING ABOUT JUST DONT SPEAK IF U CANT READ

by m	03/31/07 10:11 PM
WannabeGangster?-Garrett was a 17 year old mixed up KID who should not of been tried as an adult,BECAUSE HE WASN'T ONE.All involved including the victim were on drugs and teenagers, NOT ADULTS. HE helped the POLICE-This is not JUST,a SA who is BAD.

by Mark	03/30/07 12:57 PM
Some of you people seem to be forgetting he's a confessed party to a murder. Of course someone's lying because the only other person still alive who was in that car claims garrett was the shooter. He's a wannabe gangster who got what he deserved.

by Pam	03/30/07 08:37 AM
What Garrett and his parents seem to forget is that Garrett and Pablo threw away Eric's life. Garrett was offered leniency in the form of the 30 year plea offer which he refused. I wonder how the Nunes would feel if their son was murdered like this.

by Henry	03/18/07 06:09 AM
Our Judicial system is sending the wrong message to anyone who may want to turn away from a life of crime or bad decisions - DON'T DO IT-less you pay a price. This definately does not help the trust issue the public has with our law enforcement.

by George	03/18/07 06:04 AM
Consecutive life prison sentences without parole, How could we give a sentence like that to a 17 year old boy who helped break the case. Legal sentence,Jalal Harb says he played big the big boys,You let this boy down. This is not fair or just!!!!!!

by larry	03/17/07 06:07 AM
The legal system is broken. This Kid was only 17. How could we condone sending a KID away for life with out parole, especially one who told the truth and helped break the case. jalal Harb, a public servant have such an atitude, shame on YOU SIR!!!!

by Angel	03/14/07 07:26 PM
It is so easy to judge other people and think that you hold the moral high ground. People are not perfect and that does not make them bad. Most of us are only one or two decisions away from facing a lifetime of consequences. Be careful. God Bless you

by Donna	03/11/07 08:44 PM
children change so much from the time their adolescence ends around the age of 24 or so and the age of 17. Sadly the need for adventure in this age group is now channeled through this type of crime. JAILING and treatment options should differ from a

by Pink	03/08/07 08:32 PM
You can't always control what your kids do. Please don't blame this on the parents.

by John	03/07/07 02:12 PM
Here's a hint - don't be a drug dealing, teenager murdering, body burning piece of crap and you won't have to worry about serving consecutive life sentences. As for Dad - great job sir! Oh right, it was the "state" that threw your kid away.

by amp	03/07/07 10:01 AM
this just goes to show you cant help the state.what kind of sense does it make to help make a case and admit guilt only to wind up with a sentence you cant possibly complete.how many lives do we have to live.it makes even less sense to give all this.

by Dean	03/07/07 09:49 AM
Mitch Nunes says the 'system' throws away our kids. His involvement with drugs and murder weren't because the system threw him away--it's because you did!