The cases of two men charged in the shooting death of a man in Rosemont may be consolidated, court records indicate.
Michael John Almeda, 19, and Rodolfo Simon Villa, 22, were both charged with murder in the shooting death of 21-year-old Alexander Brian Chavez Jan. 17.
They were arrested at separate times and their cases were generated separately.
The men have been ordered to appear next in court March 8 for a felony settlement conference; there will also be a hearing on a motion to consolidate their cases.
Such motions are usually granted and in some cases, one jury will hear evidence against both defendants; in other cases, separate juries are selected, though the trial is held at the same time and one deputy district attorney prosecutes.
Almeda also faces a sentence-enhancing allegation of gun possession, as court records indicated he had a .40-caliber pistol on him when the victim was slain.
Court officers could not say whether Villa faces a gun allegation.
Almeda faces 25 years to life on the first-degree murder charge, according to state mandatory sentencing statutes.
Almeda and Villa allegedly took part in the shooting death of Chavez as the victim drove north on Westporter Drive about 6:15 p.m., according to police.
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