Forgiveness was the message the family of Chula Vista businessman Sergio Morales, who was shot to death in 1999, had for the convicted killer before he was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without parole plus 25 years.
Joe Mora, 35, of Lancaster, said nothing before Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Francis Devaney also ordered him to pay $10,195.13 in restitution for the funeral and other expenses as well as a $10,000 fine.
Morales was the owner of S&C Furniture on Main Street in Chula Vista.
His son operates the store today.
Sergio Morales was shot to death at his home on Paseo Burga at 6:50 p.m. on Nov. 28, 1999, when Mora tried to rob him.
Mora left behind a black beanie near Morales’s body and his DNA linked him to the slaying. His ex-girlfriends said Mora, a tattoo artist for 14 years, wore the beanie with a rubber band to keep his puffy hair down.
“I have released my bitterness and anger into God’s hands,” said Alma Perez, one of Morales’s daughters who wept as she said her father was “my best friend.”
“He literally took a bullet to protect my mom. My dad had an enormous heart,” said Perez.
“My husband will always be my hero. When I was with him, I always felt protected,” said his widow Cecilia Morales.
“I offer you my forgiveness,” said the widow to Mora. “I’ve always prayed for you that someday you will repent and get His forgiveness.”
Cecilia Camarena, another daughter, said she has always been puzzled that her father told her to “Go with God” about an hour before he was killed.
“As a Christian, my duty is to pray for your soul,” said Camarena to Mora. “I have forgiven you, Joe, with the love of my savior. When you forgive somebody, I’m free of the pain.”
Although Mora has served 699 days in jail since he was arrested in September 2013, Devaney said Mora doesn’t get credits because the sentence is life without parole. The extra 25 years is mandatory because he used a gun in a homicide.
A jury convicted him of first-degree murder July 7 with the special circumstance of murder during an attempted robbery and attempted burglary. Three jurors attended the sentencing, with one of them saying “this man is evil.”
Mora’s DNA profile was registered in the system after he was convicted of domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon for which he served two years in prison. In 1999 he often visited a relative and lived in San Diego, according to the probation report.
Cecilia Morales testified a woman came to their front door claiming to be a neighbor who said her cat was in their back yard. The couple didn’t recognize the woman and didn’t let her inside. They checked the backyard and no cat was there.
When they returned to the front door, Mora briefly pushed his way inside. Sergio Morales pushed him outside, but was shot several times in the head and torso. Mora fled without his beanie.
In 2012 authorities asked Mora if he ever wore a beanie. Mora denied it and declined to answer any more questions.
Mora later told someone he was asked about a home invasion robbery, although police did not mention that to him.
Mora was watching a forensics program on television with a girlfriend in 2005 and he asked her, “How long does it take before DNA catches up to you?” She said DNA always catches up to criminals, and he became angry when she asked him why he was asking that question.
