SAN BERNARDINO -- An Ontario woman pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and assault Friday in connection with the 2007 shooting death of her husband.
Mia Gonzales entered her pleas in San Bernardino Superior Court as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors that carries an 8-year prison sentence, her attorney said.
Gonzales, 36, is set to be sentenced Oct. 28.
A jury acquitted Gonzales of murder in April, but deadlocked in its deliberations over a lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter.
Gonzales testified during her trial that she shot her husband -- 44-year-old state parole agent Abel Gonzales -- in the midst of an argument on Oct. 27, 2007.
She said that as she and her husband argued in their bedroom, Abel Gonzales restrained her and she retrieved a handgun because she feared for her safety.
She testified that her husband grappled with her for control of the weapon and it inadvertently fired. The bullet entered Abel Gonzales' brain and he died instantly, authorities said.
Mia Gonzales' attorney, Mark Fredrick, said Gonzales chose to plead no contest rather than stand trial a second time because, "She's tired, and wants to put it behind her."
"What she said to me is it's time for people to start healing," Fredrick said.
Because Mia Gonzales has been in custody since the shooting, her 8-year prison sentence will be significantly shortened. Fredrick estimated that she will be released from prison in about 2-1/2 years.
Abel Gonzales' sister, Sandy Silva, called the outcome of the case "an injustice for my brother," and said she believes Mia Gonzales should have been convicted of murder.
"It's really sad for us," Silva said. "My mother didn't even go because she was so sick over the whole thing. Her heart was hurting her so much, she just couldn't go."