Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that two Newark women were sentenced to state prison time for attempting to kill another woman.
Christiana Ortiz, 28, of Newark was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for attempting to kill her ex-girlfriend. Co-defendant Emilyn Flores, 27, also of Newark, was sentenced to three years in state prison for her role in the plot.
“This is a good resolution of a case in which the outcome could have been much worse. It was out of pure luck that no one was killed or injured by the barrage of bullets that Christina Ortiz sprayed the street with that day,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Dawn D’Amico, who handled the case.
The victim previously had a six-year dating relationship with Ortiz. Two weeks prior to the attack, the relationship ended and the victim refused to take Ortiz’ calls.
On Oct. 23, 2010 at approximately 1 a.m. the victim, who had been receiving daily calls from the Ortiz, said she was driving in Newark with a friend to another friend’s house when she noticed a car containing the defendants following her. The victim parked her car, thinking she had evaded Ortiz who was in the car with two other women. When the victim stepped out of her vehicle shots rang out. The victim and her friend dove for cover. When they stood up they noticed the car they were traveling in had bullet holes. At this time, the suspect’s car came back around the corner and shot again at both victims. Neither victim was hit by any bullets. Bullet fragments were recovered at the scene.
Shortly after the incident, Ortiz, Flores and Diana Marquina were arrested. Ortiz was identified as the shooter, Flores was driving the car. Marquina was a passenger in the car.
Ortiz was indicted for numerous charges including second degree Conspiracy, second degree Aggravated Assault, first degree Attempted Murder, second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. Marquina and Flores were both indicted on second degree Conspiracy and second degree Aggravated Assault for each victim.
On November 17, 2011 Ortiz pled guilty to second degree Conspiracy, first degree Attempted Murder, and second degree unlawful possession of a weapon. On December 15, 2011 she was sentenced to 10 years with 85% parole ineligibility for the top count.
On November 21, 2011 Flores pled guilty to second degree Conspiracy and second degree Aggravated assault, to be sentenced in the third degree range due to the lack of a criminal record. On December 15, 2011 she was sentenced to 3 years with 85%.
On December 15, 2011 the charges were dismissed against Marquina after the other two defendants testified that she was not aware of what they were planning to do.
