Lynn man pleads not guilty to sheltering alleged murderer

SALEM – A Lynn man charged with providing shelter to a suspected murderer in connection with the killing of a man outside a Bennett Street restaurant two months ago is free on $2,000 bond, after pleading not guilty.In Salem Superior Court Wednesday, Moses Pen, of 21 Norton St., entered his plea of not guilty to a charge of being an accessory after the fact of murder, a crime that carries up to seven years in state prison.As jointly recommended by the prosecutor and defense, Judge Howard J. Whitehead set the same bail amount as previously established in district court and continued the case to Jan. 28 for a pre-trial conference.Assistant District Attorney James B. Gubitose said Pen is accused of harboring and providing food to Kevin Keo, 17, of Lynn, in his bedroom for a couple of days, following the Nov. 1 fatal shooting of Christian Vargas-Martinez.At that time, Pen is alleged to have known that Keo was involved in the murder of Vargas-Martinez.Vargas-Martinez, 18, of 153 Chatham St., Lynn, was gunned down outside the Golden Lakes Restaurant. He was shot at least once, with a .22 caliber revolver, in an ambush that occurred around 5 p.m., outside the restaurant.The weapon used in the commission of the incident has never been found.Gubitose charged Keo along with Bonrad Sok, 17, also of Lynn, with the first-degree premeditated shooting of Vargas-Martinez.Following the incident Sok surrendered himself to police. Authorities say he is an admitted member of the “Gangster Bloods.”Vargas-Martinez apparently was a member of the “Asian Street Walkers,” a gang affiliation with the “Crips,” a major gang rival of the “Bloods.”Keo and Sok are expected to be arraigned on the murder charge within the next week.