Norman Rodriguez: “Twenty-five years minimum for a crime like this…”

Norman Rodriguez

Attorney Norman Rodriguez, who represents Ashton Vanegas, told the media late this evening, following the mitigation pleas, that the least he expects for his client is a sentence of twenty-five years.  That is based on precedence having been set for punishment of a crime of this nature.  He was the second lawyer to have spoken on behalf of their client.

Norman Rodriguez, Attorney for Ashton Vanegas

“Murder carries a very high sentence and the matter in which the pastor lost his life would require a very high sentence.  As attorneys for the convicts, we have to try to see if we can get the court to be lenient, that is why we ask for those low-end sentences.”

Reporter

“We heard in there all of them said that they felt remorse or that they sympathize with the family but I noticed that none of them, none of the four so far have said that, well I‘m sorry for what I did.  They said that they are sorry about what happened and they are sorry for the family‘s loss.  Is that a deliberate strategy if the case goes to appeal, that type of thing?”

Norman Rodriguez

“I believe that is the reason for saying that.  You don‘t want to admit guilt, especially if you believe that you are not guilty.  But you have to be careful what you say before the court because you are being sentenced and you have been convicted of the crime.  So you have to be very careful how you speak you the court so that you don‘t prejudice either the sentencing or the appeal, if it goes to that.”

Reporter

“What is the best that these men can hope for and I know you cannot speak for the judge but we know that precedence suggests that if you are convicted of murder, you get twenty-five years to life?”

Norman Rodriguez

“You said what is the best, I am looking at minimum of twenty-five because that is what the authorities show the court has gone as the lowest sentence for crime like this.”