OBSERVER File Photo Jamestown police are pictured in August 2022 on Prendergast Avenue.

MAYVILLE — A city resident jailed for his role in an August 2022 drive-by shooting death has pleaded guilty to a first-degree manslaughter charge.

Kevin Roldan-Pantojas entered the plea last month in Chautauqua County Court. The 24-year-old was facing a five-count indictment that included charges of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence, all felonies.

Roldan-Pantojas and another man were arrested just days after Jesus Batista-Perez, 35, was shot and killed in the 300 block of Prendergast Avenue in Jamestown. The homicide occurred amid a wave of shooting incidents in the city.

No motive for the summer shooting was released.

At the time of their initial arrest, Roldan-Pantojas and Joseph A. Fontanez Walker were each charged with criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. Charges to Walker were later dropped.

A month after the Aug. 19 homicide, in which another man also was wounded by gunfire, the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office announced the five-count indictment against Roldan-Pantojas. At arraignment, County Court Judge David Foley set bail at $1 million cash or $2 million property bond.

Jason Schmidt, Chautauqua County district attorney, said his office was committed to resolving the homicide case. He noted the work put in by his office and the Jamestown Police Department that resulted in a felony conviction.

“Shootouts and gun violence may seem more commonplace than ever before here in our community but we are doing everything in our power, with the limited resources available to us, to reverse the tide,” he said in a statement Tuesday.

Regarding the plea deal, he continued, “Unfortunately, we live at a time when the resolution of this homicide is not the end. We have multiple homicides lined up for trial in the next few months and continue to do the work necessary to ensure convictions in those cases, too.”

Roldan-Pantojas has remained locked up in Chautauqua County Jail in Mayville; his case was set to go to trial when he agreed to plead to the manslaughter charge.

He was represented by local attorney Andrew Brautigam, who did not immediately return a call seeking comment Tuesday.

Roldan-Pantojas is scheduled to be sentenced in January. He faces up to 25 years in prison.