Man Who Arranged Killing Is Sentenced

A 28-year-old Pacoima man was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison Wednesday for arranging the beating death of a co-worker who he said taunted him about being a homosexual.

Raul Anicua pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder in the death of Hortencio Aragon, 20, of Northridge. Anicua was sentenced by San Fernando Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen according to a plea arrangement, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Lori Dery.

Anicua testified Wednesday that Aragon had taunted him about his homosexuality, prompting him to quit his job at Giuliano’s Delicatessen in Northridge, Dery said. The testimony came during a preliminary hearing for his alleged accomplice in the beating, Christopher Dodds, 25, of Sepulveda.

On Oct. 19, Dodds and Anicua allegedly drove to the restaurant where Aragon worked and followed the man as he rode away on a bicycle. While Anicua waited in the car, Dodds is accused of assaulting Aragon with a baseball bat. Aragon died two days later of head injuries. A witness told police that Anicua said he paid Dodds $50 to beat Aragon, Dery said. Municipal Judge Juelann K. Cathey ordered Dodds to stand trial for Aragon’s death. Dodds faces a charge of murder with a special allegation and could be sentenced to the death penalty if convicted of the crime.