Friday, June 27, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

PREGNANT WOMAN STABBING: Man gets 18-year sentence

Boyfriend's attack brought end to victim's pregnancy

Jesus Villagomez appears in District Court on Thursday to be sentenced for the attempted murder of his girlfriend. Flora Solorio was 18 weeks pregnant when Villagomez attacked her in October. The stabbing ended her pregnancy. Photo by Gary Thompson. Flora Solorio testifies Thursday at the sentencing of Jesus Villagomez, who terminated her fetus when he stabbed her in the stomach. Photo by Gary Thompson.

Jesus Villagomez expressed no remorse Thursday before receiving an 18-year prison sentence for stabbing his pregnant girlfriend multiple times in the stomach.

"The real truth is that I'm afraid of her," Villagomez told District Judge Valorie Vega through a Spanish interpreter.

Under the sentence, the 35-year-old defendant must spend almost eight years behind bars before officials may consider releasing him on parole.

The penalty was part of a plea agreement reached in the case last month, when prosecutors agreed to dismiss a second, rarely used charge of manslaughter of an unborn quick child.

Flora Solorio was 18 weeks pregnant when Villagomez attacked her in October. The stabbing ended her pregnancy.

Prosecutors initially filed a sole charge of attempted murder with a deadly weapon against Villagomez. But after hearing evidence at a preliminary hearing, Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman urged the attorneys to research the possibility of adding a second charge in connection with the loss of the fetus. After doing so, prosecutors added the manslaughter charge.

Defense attorney Frank Kocka later filed a motion asking Vega to dismiss the charge. Kocka argued that the underlying law was unconstitutionally vague because it failed to define the term "quick child."

Villagomez entered his guilty plea on the day Vega was scheduled to hear arguments on the motion. As part of the plea bargain, prosecutors also dismissed the deadly weapon enhancement, which would have doubled the defendant's sentence.

Deputy District Attorney Ravi Bawa said prosecutors had three reasons for offering the deal: It was acceptable to the victim, it avoided possible appellate issues and it ensured Villagomez would serve a lengthy prison term.

Bawa said the man- slaughter charge carries a sentence range of one to eight years.

During Thursday's hearing, Villagomez described himself as a "quiet person" who tried to be a good father to the couple's young daughter.

He accused Solorio of giving the toddler beer against his wishes and of causing the girl to choke by feeding her tostadas when she had no teeth.

Kocka acknowledged that the two parents have had a "history of ongoing violence." Bawa said he has seen no evidence indicating that Solorio has done anything improper to her child.

Solorio, speaking through a Spanish interpreter, said the child witnessed the stabbing, which occurred at a Swenson Street apartment.

The victim said the attack was prompted by "dumb jealousy." Villagomez wanted a DNA test to prove that he was the father of her unborn child, a boy.

"I accepted that, and I told him that I was going to show him that it was his," Solorio said.

She said she continues to suffer from nightmares brought on by the stabbing.

"I don't know how I'm going to recover," she said. "I am in therapy, and I think I will be there a long time."

Solorio said she fears Villagomez will attack her again if he regains his freedom.

In addition to imposing a prison term, Vega ordered the defendant to pay more than $63,000 in restitution to cover Solorio's medical bills.