A felon who gunned down a 30-year-old man during a confrontation in Moreno Valley, then fled to another city where he was apprehended, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder.
Joe Miramontes Jr., 33, of Moreno Valley, admitted the felony count Monday under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his admission, prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of being a felon with a gun and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations against Miramontes.
The plea deal was announced just as the defendant’s case was called for a preliminary hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gail O’Rane scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 6 at the downtown courthouse.
Miramontes, who is being held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center, is facing a sentence of 15 years to life in state prison.
He fatally shot Gilbert Ramirez on the night of Aug. 12, 2024.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Lance Stoyer, Miramontes and Ramirez were involved in an unspecified dispute in the 24000 block of Bostwick Drive, near Cactus Avenue.
During the encounter, Miramontes pulled a handgun and shot the victim several times, then fled the location, Stoyer said.
Deputies and paramedics arrived a short time later and pronounced Ramirez dead at the scene.
Central Homicide Unit detectives soon gathered undisclosed evidence confirming that Miramontes was the assailant and obtained an arrest warrant. Two days later, the defendant was located in a residence on Laurel Avenue in Pomona, where he was taken into custody without incident.
Court documents show Miramontes has a prior conviction in Riverside County for making criminal threats.