Local News in Brief : Man Gets Prison Term in Sun Valley Slaying
A Fresno County farm worker was sentenced to seven years in prison Tuesday in the fatal stabbing of a Sun Valley man at his home.
After a plea bargain with prosecutors, Maximo Ayala Valencia, 37, of Parlier pleaded guilty July 5 in San Fernando Superior Court to one count of manslaughter in the March 6 death of Pastor Velasquez, 25. Valencia was originally charged with first-degree murder.
Court documents state that Valencia argued with an ex-girlfriend at a house in the 8200 block of Fair Street in which Velasquez and several others lived. After Valencia grabbed and choked the woman, Velasquez intervened, authorities said. The two men fought, and Valencia left the house, court records show.
Valencia came back to the house later that morning with an 8-inch knife, and a fight broke out, Deputy Dist. Atty. Craig Richman said. Valencia said that several men swung at him with bottles. He told authorities he swung back with his knife to defend himself and stabbed Velasquez once in the chest, records show.
Police arrested Valencia at a nearby park just after the incident.
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