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Plea deal halts trial in 2018 shooting death

Prosecutors: Killing occurred during sale of "small amount of marjijuana"

Bernaillo County District Court.JPG

The Bernalillo County Courthouse.

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An Albuquerque man entered a guilty plea Monday that halted his trial in the 2018 shooting death of 23-year-old Skyler Monday at a Northeast Albuquerque apartment complex.

Hunter Matney

Hunter Matney, 25, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder shortly before jury selection was scheduled to begin in 2nd Judicial District Court before Judge Emeterio Rudolfo.

Matney was 17 at the time of the killing but was charged as an adult, the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office said. He faces up to 18 years in prison. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

The plea deal ends a case long delayed by difficulties faced by prosecutors producing witnesses, court records show.

Monday was fatally shot on July 28, 2018, during an attempted robbery at his residence at the Courtyards Apartments in the 600 block of Topke Place NE. He died at the scene.

"Matney did not know the victim but sought him out on social media and asked to meet with him to buy a small amount of marijuana," District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Nancy Laflin said in a statement. "Matney shot and killed Monday at the doorstep of his apartment, then took off."

鈥淚t鈥檚 just really sad 鈥 a 23-year-old lost his life over a small amount of marijuana," District Attorney Sam Bregman said in the statement. "It鈥檚 another example of the kind of gun violence we keep seeing among young people, often over something so minor.鈥

Matney鈥檚 attorney, Keren Fenderson, did not immediately respond Monday to a phone message seeking comment.

Matney's co-defendant, Adam Swingle, 45, pleaded guilty in November to a pair of lesser charges on condition that he agreed to "testify truthfully" in Matney's trial, the plea agreement said.

Swingle, 45, pleaded guilty to charges of tampering with evidence and conspiracy and faces up to four-and-a-half years in prison. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

Matney was first arrested on October 2021 on six felony charges including first-degree murder in Monday's killing. Those charges were dismissed in December 2023 on condition that charges could be refiled later.

Prosecutors at that time told a judge that "one of the key witnesses has not been located at this time" and other witnesses needed to be interviewed by law enforcement, court records show.

Matney was indicted a second time in January 2024 on charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery and four other felonies. He has remained in custody since July 2024 at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center.