Cesareo
The Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s office has added a revised charge against one of four defendants accused in a murder-for-hire case filed in 2020.
Abraham Jimenez Cesareo, 38, of Columbus is accused of hiring a Chicago man, Eliel Avelar, to physically harm 37-year-old Leobardo Rodriguez Flores due to his jealousy over a woman, according to court documents. Flores was shot and killed allegedly by Avelar on Feb. 26, 2020 in the parking lot of the victim’s employer, Tool Dynamics, on South Marr Road, court documents state.
On Sept. 13, 2022, Cesareo pleaded guilty to aiding, inducing or causing kidnapping as a Level 2 felony, and aiding, inducing or causing aggravated battery as a Level 3 felony.
Now, Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton is allowing both of those felonies to be “vacated,” meaning Cesareo’s guilty pleas have been withdrawn and both charges have been dismissed.
Online court records make no reference to how these changes might impact the primary felony Cesareo is facing, which is aiding, inducing or causing murder carrying a potential sentence of 45 to 65 years.
However, a revised charge has been added, aiding, inducing or causing a robbery resulting in serious bodily injury as a Level 2 felony. A hearing has been tentatively set for 10 a.m. on Sept. 7 to determine how the case should proceed forward following these changes.
As part of his plea agreement, Avelar agreed to testify against the other defendants in the case, including Cesareo, Eladia Jacobo Ortiz and Esam Mohammed Abujoudeh. In exchange, he would received a 17½-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter.
Judge Worton reminded attorneys last month he is under no obligation to accept the plea agreement drawn up when Bill Nash was county prosecutor.
Ortiz, who is charged with aiding, inducing or causing murder for allegedly arranging the murder-for-hire, has a change of plea hearing at 10:45 a.m. on June 26 , a pre-trial conference at 11 a.m. on July 10, and a tentative jury trial starting at 8:30 a.m. on July 18.
Abujoudeh is facing charges of battery resulting in serious bodily injury as a Level 5 felony, and obstruction of justice as a Level 6 felony. Since being released on bond, Abujoudeh has missed at least three court hearings concerning this case. The Oak Forrest, Illinois resident is scheduled for a change of plea hearing at 9:15 a.m. on July 24, a pre-trial conference at 11 a.m. on Aug. 7 and a tentative trial date of Aug. 22 at 8:30 a.m.
