20-year-old sentenced in North Las Vegas slaying
Jonathan Vazquez was 17 years old when he shot and killed another teen at a party three years ago.
On Friday, Vazquez, now 20, learned he would spend at least the next 37 years in prison for the murder of 17-year-old Juanito Granados
Vazquez stood stoically as Judge Michael Villani sentenced him to 40 to 100 years in prison. Vazquez was given credit for the three years he has already served.
Juanito Granados was shot at a house party, about 12:30 a.m. May 6, 2007, in North Las Vegas. He was taken to North Vista Hospital but died from his wounds.
The party was announced on the social networking website MySpace. The gathering attracted the attention of local “party crews,” described as a group of young people who host and attend house parties.
Vazquez was intoxicated on beer and tequila, according to court documents.
Photos from the party posted on MySpace later helped investigators track down Vazquez.
At the hearing, Villani told Vazquez that being intoxicated was no excuse because “you still made the choice of bringing a gun to the party.”
The hearing also featured emotional testimony from the victim’s mother and siblings.
Afterward, Granados’ father Roberto Granados said he believed justice was done for his son.
The victim’s sister, Sonia Granados, said she hoped others would think twice before acting such as Vazquez did.
In a rare legal maneuver, defense attorneys asked Villani to hear and decide the case instead of a jury. In February, Villani found Vazquez guilty of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon and attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon.
