Man who pled guilty to killing Hollywood officer in 2021 asks judge to change plea
A South Florida man who pleaded guilty to killing a Hollywood police officer said he wants to walk back his plea.
Just days before he was set to be sentenced to life in prison, Jason Banegas, 23, told a Broward County Judge he wanted to enter a “not guilty” plea.
Banegas pleaded guilty last October to shooting and killing Hollywood Officer Yandy Chirino after a struggle in 2021.
Banegas was charged with first-degree murder and faced the possibility of the death penalty, even after he pleaded guilty.
A jury decided to recommend life in prison as a sentence in December.
In Florida, eight out of 12 jurors need to recommend the death penalty for a person convicted of first-degree murder to be sentenced to death.
Banegas told Judge Ernest Kollra on Monday that he raised the issue of changing his plea with his attorneys in December, during the penalty phase of his criminal trial.
In fact, portions of the trial were delayed as attorneys discussed the issue with the judge behind closed doors.
The Judge set a hearing date for March 6 to consider Banegas’ request to change his guilty plea. If the motion is granted, a new trial would need to be scheduled.
It is unclear if the Broward State Attorney’s Office would still pursue the death penalty in this case.
Dozens of Hollywood police officers attended the penalty phase of the trial in December to show support for Officer Chirino and his family.
Officer Chirino encountered Banegas while searching for a burglary suspect in the Emerald Hills neighborhood of Hollywood. The two got into a scuffle, and Banegas, who was armed with a gun, shot Chirino twice, killing him.
