BOSTON, Sept. 23, 2013—A Dorchester man pleaded guilty last week to taking part in a convenience store robbery in which his joint-venturer allegedly shot 71-year-old Geraldo Serrano dead, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

MARTIN FREELES (D.O.B. 1/21/93) pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of manslaughter, armed robbery, armed robbery while masked, and unlawful possession of a firearm, admitting that he took part in a series of armed robberies, including the one on Feb. 21, 2010, in which ONYX WHITE (D.O.B. 10/6/93) allegedly shot Serrano to death, killing him. White is charged with first-degree murder.

Judge Thomas Connors imposed the recommended sentence of 15 years in state prison on the manslaughter charge, three concurrent years in state prison on the firearm charge, and three years of probation upon his release on one of the armed robbery charges. The second robbery charge was placed on file, meaning that he may be sentenced to additional prison time on that conviction at a later date if he reoffends or violates the terms of his probation.

“This sentence takes into account the defendant’s role in this homicide and his age at the time of the incident, and it allows us to build the strongest possible case against the individual we believe pulled the trigger,” Conley said. “As we move toward that goal, I hope this defendant’s admission of guilt and his lengthy prison sentence give Mr. Serrano’s family some satisfaction that we will not stop working on their behalf.”

Had the case proceeded to trial, Assistant District Attorney David Fredette of the DA’s Homicide Unit would have presented evidence and testimony to prove that Freeles, then 17, participated in a series of armed robberies, including the Feb. 21, 2010, robbery at Hermanos Unidos convenience store on Dudley Street in Upham’s Corner.

Prosecutors say White carried a live handgun and Freeles carried a pellet gun when they entered the store shortly after 10:30 a.m.

As the clerk complied with their demands for cash, prosecutors said, Serrano resisted the robbery. During the course of a brief altercation, prosecutors say, White shot and mortally wounded Serrano.  Freeles then took both the firearm and pellet gun and handed them off to another individual blocks away, the evidence showed.

Freeles also admitted to taking part in the Feb. 6, 2010, robbery of Central Convenience Store in which he and other individuals were armed and wore masks as they stole items belonging to store employees.

Serrano’s son yesterday delivered a victim impact statement detailing how his father’s murder has affected the family – including Serrano’s wife of 46 years at the time of his death, his nine children, 28 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

“Our family has endured stress, depression, and sadness, watching our mom continue her life without her husband of now 49 years has been difficult.  He was our strength, continuing without him seems impossible.  I personally have been affected emotionally, physically, and socially.  Our family has suffered from losing our dad; we strive to be everything he wanted us to be.  It will never be the same without him,” he told the court.

Catherine Rodriguez was the DA’s assigned victim witness advocate. Freeles was represented by Steven Sack.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.