Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Bouncer at Misty’s

An Orange man accepted a plea bargain of aggravated manslaughter on Tuesday for killing a bouncer of a West Orange restaurant last year.

Jose Garcia-Lendos, 25, of Orange, pleaded guilty before Judge Peter J. Vazquez in Newark to aggregated manslaughter for the killing of Jacques Nelson, 32, of Orange, during a bar fight at the Main Street restaurant on Aug. 6, 2012.

Garcia-Lendos, a Honduran national, admitted through an interpreter he was drunk at the time of the incident, NJ.com reported.

According to authorities, Nelson was attempting to break up a fight between two patrons in the parking lot behind the bar at 277 Main St. when Garcia-Lendos pulled out a gun and shot Nelson in the chest.

Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene. 

“This is another example of a tragic result due to the combination of an unlawful handgun, anger and alcohol,’’ Assistant Prosecutor Eileen O’Connor said in a release.

Garcia-Lendos attempted to flee the country into Mexico but was arrested by authorities in Texas a week after the killing.

Nelson was a father of four who was working for eight months at Misty’s as his second job on weekends. 

Garcia-Lendos faces 24 years in New Jersey State Prison under his plea agreement. He will be sentenced on Sept. 17. 

In addition to aggravated manslaughter, Garcia-Lendos pleaded guilty to attempted murder and possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose.

Under the No Early Release Act, he must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. After he is released from prison Garcia-Lendos will be deported.