In the end, Jason Banegas had nothing left to say.
After pleading guilty last year to murdering Hollywood Police Officer Yandy Chirino in 2021, Banegas, 23, was spared the death penalty by a Broward jury in December. The decision stripped the outcome of any mystery. By law, Broward Circuit Judge Ernest Kollra had no choice Wednesday but to sentence Banegas to life in prison.
Even then, there was drama along the way. With the death penalty off the table, Banegas tried last month to vacate his guilty plea. He told Kollra he was poorly served by his lawyers and didn’t realize the full consequences. He had already told investigators that he shot Chirino by accident in a struggle in Hollywood’s Emerald Hills neighborhood on Oct. 18, 2021. Chirino was responding a report of car break-ins. According to police reports, Banegas knew he was in trouble and wanted to shoot himself. But when the gun went off, it was Chirino, 28, in his fourth year of service with the Hollywood Police Department.
Jason Banegas sits in the gallery at the Broward County Courthouse on Wednesday after he was sentenced to life in prison for the 2021 shooting death of Hollywood police officer Yandy Chirino. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Sentencing on Wednesday was uneventful. Family members of the victim had already said what they wanted to say during the penalty phase of Banegas’ trial. So did his colleagues, many of whom filled the courtroom and the hallway outside.
No one took the stand to plead for justice or mercy. Not even Banegas.
For murder, the defendant was sentenced to life in prison. For six counts of burglary, 30 years in prison, each term to be served consecutively. For other related counts, including resisting arrest, Kollra sentenced Banegas to a little under 16 years in prison.
Banegas said nothing as he was led from the courtroom.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Twitter (X) @OlmedaNews.