W-b Man Avoids Criminal Charges In Deadly Car Crash 
Investigation Concludes That Joseph Santiglia Wasn't Driving Recklessly When
His Car Drove Through A N.j. Coffee Shop, Killing A Man.

1975 Dui Conviction Bars Man From Buying Guns, Appeals Court Says 
George A. Bellum Is Unable To Purchase Firearms Even Though He Could Be A Gun
Owner If Found Guilty Of Same Offense Today.

By DAVID WEISS dweiss@leader.net
 Friday, December 01, 2000 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 13A 





WILKES-BARRE - Jose Cordero's mother hopes the man who shot and killed her
only son after a confrontation will think before reacting the next time he is
faced with a dispute. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Try to walk away,'' Emerita De Los Santos said through a translator just
before Michael Nixon was sentenced Thursday to 11-to-22 years in prison for
killing her son, Jose Cordero. ``It's very painful.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nixon, 19, of Edwardsville, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder for the
July 29 shooting death of Cordero in Edwardsville. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Police said Nixon shot Cordero, 24, of Wilkes-Barre, at close range in the
chest after Cordero hit Nixon in the face in the parking lot of the
Edwardsville Apartments. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Thursday, Nixon's apology for the shooting brought tears to De Los
Santos' eyes at Nixon's sentencing before Court of Common Pleas Judge Peter
Paul Olszewski Jr. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I didn't mean to do it,'' Nixon said. ``I deeply regret it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Friends of De Los Santos consoled the mother, rubbing their hands on her
back and holding her arm. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nixon's attorneys, William Ruzzo and John Donovan, opted to plead guilty
instead of taking a ``very risky'' self-defense argument to a jury. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ruzzo said he and Donovan ``strongly'' recommended Nixon accept the plea
offer because they thought prosecutors could prove Nixon had the ``intent'' to
kill Cordero, which could have resulted in a first-degree murder conviction. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We believe this is in his best interest,'' Ruzzo said. ``He had some
reservations, but he has agreed.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nixon and Cordero had bad blood between them, prosecutors said. Witnesses
said Nixon got a gun the day of the shooting and promised to ``take care of
business,'' Assistant District Attorney Tim Doherty said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``They didn't like each other,'' said Doherty, who prosecuted the case with
Assistant District Attorney Andrew Duncan. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 De Los Santos, who said she accepted her son's death, said she wished
Olszewski would sentence Nixon to more prison time, but said she was satisfied
overall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nixon, who has a young child, will remain at the Luzerne County prison
until a child custody hearing on Dec. 21. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nixon will be eligible for parole after serving the 11-year minimum, but
Doherty said he expects Nixon will serve 15 to 17 years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``No sentence could make up for it,'' Nixon said. ``I'm deeply sorry.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 David Weiss, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 831-7397. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

19-year-old Pleads Guilty To July Killing 
Michael Nixon Of Edwardsville Was Sentenced To 11-to-22 Years In Prison For
The Shooting Death Of Jose Cordero.

19-year-old Pleads Guilty To July Killing Michael Nixon Of Edwardsville Was Sentenced To 11-to-22 Years In Prison For The Shooting Death Of Jose Cordero.