The jury returned their verdict on lesser charges for Carlos Chavez-Aguilar, 22, who had gone on trial accused of second-degree intentional murder.

Second-degree unintentional murder is a reckless action taken with extreme disregard for human safety. Voluntary manslaughter is a sudden death occurring in the heat of passion.

Chavez-Aguilar is set for sentencing May 15 before Sedgwick County District Judge Joseph Bribiesca. Chavez-Aguilar’s lawyer, Brad Sylvester, said he plans to ask for a new trial, after raising objections to Bribiesca allowing gang testimony.

Police said a fight broke around 2 a.m. on Aug. 23 in the parking lot of the El Alacran Club at Harry and Seneca. An officer with the Wichita police gang unit testified that members of the Surenos 13, Vato Loco Boys and North Side Gangsters started the fight.

A pickup truck drove around the corner of the building and through the parking lot, killing Juan Martinez, 22, and Marilyn Arreola, 54. Carlos Chavez-Aguilar also was convicted of aggravated battery in the injury of a third person.

Rene Chavez-Aguilar, 20, charged with driving the truck, faces trial April 27.

(Note: Brad Sylvester and I are not related)

Hopper, 28, had been charged in the shooting deaths of DeAndre Reed and Princess Sears on Jan. 8, 2007. Reed, 24, died that night after being shot in the apartment he shared with Sears in the 400 block of North Oliver. Sears, 23, died as a result of her gunshot wounds three weeks later after she’d left the hospital.

The defense had attacked Sears’ identification of a picture her father showed her in the hospital of Hopper and produced family and friends saying he had been in Topeka the night of the shooting.

Hopper won’t go free, however. He faces prison sentences as a result of two other convictions related to being a felon in possession of a firearm.