The trial for a Cherokee County man charged with 1st Degree Murder in the death of his infant child will now be held in Woodbury County.
According to court documents filed last Thursday, the new venue is for the trial of 24-year-old Luis Contreras-Deciga after a change of venue motion was granted earlier this month to move it out of Cherokee County. The defense attorney argued the trial couldn’t be impartial if it were held in Cherokee due to the amount of publicity. The state did not object to that argument.
Contreras-Deciga pleaded not guilty in January to one count of 1st Degree Murder. In May of last year, his four-month-old child was found unresponsive. The child was flown to the Omaha Children’s Hospital, and was declared legally brain dead four days after being admitted.
The infant reportedly had severe injuries to the head and chest. During Contreras-Deciga’s interview with authorities, he allegedly admitted he was the infant’s sole provider, and reportedly admitted to “violently” shaking the infant.
If convicted of 1st Degree Murder, Contreras-Deciga would be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 15th.
