Murder charge reduced, no jail time for 'accessory' defendant

News Virginian ^ | : January 28, 2011 | Chase Purdy

[moonshinner_09]

A teenage illegal immigrant will serve no jail time for his role in the June stabbing death of a Waynesboro man.

In a ruling handed down by Waynesboro General District Court Judge Kent Bowers on Friday, Abiel Javier Vazquez, 19, will remain at Middle River Regional Jail in Verona until federal authorities deport him back to Mexico.

Vazquez pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of accessory after the fact in the killing of Eduardo “Piku” Herrera, 39, of 260 N. Commerce Ave. The plea tied the loose ends of a case in which authorities earlier this week convicted David Luna Sanchez of second-degree murder.

Authorities in August arrested Vazquez and Sanchez, 22, also an illegal immigrant, in the murder. A circuit court judge on Wednesday sentenced Sanchez to 13 years in prison and later deportation.

Sanchez and Herrera fell into the throes of a fistfight on a June evening on North Commerce Avenue. The fight caught Sanchez a fist to the face and Herrera a knife to the heart, authorities said. Herrera died about a block away from his apartment, and Sanchez fled the scene and the city in a primer black Ford Taurus.

Vazquez went with him.

“He helped him get rid of the knife and he helped him get to Florida,” said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Camblos.

Deputies in Putnam County, Florida caught the pair 10 days after the stabbing during a traffic stop for speeding. In an interview with Waynesboro police Sgt. Becky Moran, Sanchez told police he was trying to get back to Mexico. He said Vazquez was staying with an aunt in nearby Fruitland, Fla.

[GeronL]

wow

let me guess, won’t be deported either?

[moonshinner_09]

Imagine they will rush him to front of the line for the Dream Act

[17th Miss Regt]

He has recently turned around his life and is now an honor student. And he is helping out as an altar boy.

[HiJinx]

Ping!