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Rape trial ends with hung jury
Acknowledging other people in the woman's small house would have heard her, Belazi asked, "Why didn't she scream?
by Bob Campbell
Midland Reporter-Telegram
- State undecided if 24-year-old defendant will be retried in 53-year-old woman's alleged assault.
By Bob Campbell
Staff Writer
A 385th District Court jury deliberated for four hours Thursday before declaring it would not be able to reach a verdict in the case of a 24-year-old man accused of rape.
Charged with sexually assaulting a 53-year-old woman in her home on the early morning of July 28, 2007, Jeremy Scott Vasquez had taken the stand in his own defense Wednesday to concede he was sleeping in the same bed with her but to deny he did anything wrong.
In final arguments Thursday morning, Midland County Assistant District Attorney Jane Belazi said Vasquez "has plenty of motive to lie" while defense lawyer Paul Williams cited a lack of medical proof.
Acknowledging other people in the woman's small house would have heard her, Belazi asked, "Why didn't she scream?
"Because she was horrified. He is a convicted felon and not trustworthy. There was no reason for her to conjure up this story, but he has the motive to lie because he would go to prison. We can't understand why he did it because we are not criminals.
"His youthful looks are somewhat deceiving, but he is totally self absorbed."
In his testimony, Vasquez said he had recently been released from a 45-day term in Cochran County Jail at Morton on a probation revocation for family violence assault when arrested on the second-degree felony sexual assault charge.
The oilfield mud crew worker said he was planning to report to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in mid-August 2007 to serve 17 months on a narcotics conviction.
Vasquez said the woman was letting him sleep in her bed with pillows stacked between them because there were a number of people in the house and bed space was limited.
If found guilty, he could have received two to 20 years in state prison. District Judge Robin Malone Darr declared a mistrial when the eight-man, four-woman jury said it was hung.
Williams said in his summation that a sexual assault examination at Midland Memorial Hospital within a few hours of the alleged 5 a.m. attack produced no evidence.
"There was no physical evidence in this case at all," said Williams.
Vasquez has been held at Midland County Detention Center in lieu of a $50,000 bond since his arrest. Belazi said she would "regroup and decide" whether to try him again.
She said Vasquez has gotten credit for part of his federal sentence while awaiting trial and will serve the rest of his time in prison if the state case is resolved before the federal sentence expires.
Bob Campbell can be reached at campbell@mrt.com.
By Bob Campbell
Staff Writer
A 385th District Court jury deliberated for four hours Thursday before declaring it would not be able to reach a verdict in the case of a 24-year-old man accused of rape.
Charged with sexually assaulting a 53-year-old woman in her home on the early morning of July 28, 2007, Jeremy Scott Vasquez had taken the stand in his own defense Wednesday to concede he was sleeping in the same bed with her but to deny he did anything wrong.
In final arguments Thursday morning, Midland County Assistant District Attorney Jane Belazi said Vasquez "has plenty of motive to lie" while defense lawyer Paul Williams cited a lack of medical proof.
Acknowledging other people in the woman's small house would have heard her, Belazi asked, "Why didn't she scream?
"Because she was horrified. He is a convicted felon and not trustworthy. There was no reason for her to conjure up this story, but he has the motive to lie because he would go to prison. We can't understand why he did it because we are not criminals.
"His youthful looks are somewhat deceiving, but he is totally self absorbed."
In his testimony, Vasquez said he had recently been released from a 45-day term in Cochran County Jail at Morton on a probation revocation for family violence assault when arrested on the second-degree felony sexual assault charge.
The oilfield mud crew worker said he was planning to report to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in mid-August 2007 to serve 17 months on a narcotics conviction.
Vasquez said the woman was letting him sleep in her bed with pillows stacked between them because there were a number of people in the house and bed space was limited.
If found guilty, he could have received two to 20 years in state prison. District Judge Robin Malone Darr declared a mistrial when the eight-man, four-woman jury said it was hung.
Williams said in his summation that a sexual assault examination at Midland Memorial Hospital within a few hours of the alleged 5 a.m. attack produced no evidence.
"There was no physical evidence in this case at all," said Williams.
Vasquez has been held at Midland County Detention Center in lieu of a $50,000 bond since his arrest. Belazi said she would "regroup and decide" whether to try him again.
She said Vasquez has gotten credit for part of his federal sentence while awaiting trial and will serve the rest of his time in prison if the state case is resolved before the federal sentence expires.
Bob Campbell can be reached at campbell@mrt.com.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mywesttexas.com.
susan tignor wrote on Aug 21, 2008 2:13 PM:
" Why are these less than zero allowed to perverse the air they breathe!!! It is due to all the liberals who demonstrate by their actions that these animals have more rights than a victim!! "
April L wrote on Aug 29, 2008 8:11 AM:
" if the District Attorney could not prove that a crime was committed, how did they expect a conviction? We are ALL innocent until proved guilty and we all deserve a fair trial regardless of our past transgressions.
Be careful of acting on a gut reaction and adopting "lynch mob" mentality. Without the facts, we simply don't know what did or did not happen! "
Be careful of acting on a gut reaction and adopting "lynch mob" mentality. Without the facts, we simply don't know what did or did not happen! "
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CG wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:34 AM:
I hope these two little girls are receiving proper counseling and guidance. This kind of thing really will mess up a child for life, especially in adulthood when the memories start coming back. I know because one of my siblings was exposed to inappropriate things as a child, and now is completely messed up. Same for my cousins whose father molested them. This type of thing is a cycle, and it needs to be stopped now! "