This morning, Christian Matthew Couto, 20, and Austin Shane Moore, 22, were each sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation, for their involvement in a murder case. They were each adjudicated guilty of Second Degree Murder, Attempted Robbery-Possessing a Firearm and Conspiracy. They have been sentenced in accordance with a Substantial Assistance Plea Agreement with the State for the information they provided to enable the prosecution of Alize Fonseca who actually shot and killed the victim.
Last week, Fonseca, 17, of Lehigh Acres, was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation for one count of Second Degree Murder with a Firearm and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery. The State Attorney’s Office direct filed on the defendant, meaning the juvenile case was placed in adult court and he was sentenced as an adult.
The three defendants made a plan to draw the victim to a remote area of Lehigh Acres so they could rob him. The three met in the early morning hours of August 14, 2020 in Lehigh. The victim came to meet the defendants in a vehicle occupied by several other young people. Fonseca then emerged from the darkness, wearing a mask and carrying a semi-automatic firearm. He demanded money from the victim and then opened fire, killing him.
None of the other occupants of the car were injured. The three defendants then fled the scene in another vehicle. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit handled the investigation.
Assistant State Attorney Hamid Hunter, of the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit, prosecuted the cases.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office