Man Pleads Guilty in Beating Death of Newbury Park Busboy : Courts: Raul Paul Urquidi will face a sentence of at least 27 years in prison after the surprise agreement.

A Los Angeles man pleaded guilty Tuesday to the first-degree murder of a Newbury Park restaurant worker who was beaten to death in his home last May with a crowbar.

The surprise plea was entered by Raul Paul Urquidi one day after a jury trial was delayed in Ventura County Superior Court, said Deputy Public Defender John H. Voigtsberger.

“It was the just thing to do,” Voigtsberger said of his client’s decision.

Under the plea agreement, Urquidi will receive at least 27 years in prison and possibly a life term when he is sentenced Oct. 7. But by pleading guilty, Urquidi avoided five additional years that would have been added to the sentence because of a prior felony conviction for burglary. Prosecutors also agreed to drop a related auto theft charge.

“If he does a good job (in prison), he might get out (on parole) in 17 or 18 years,” Voigtsberger said.

Urquidi, 23, was indicted June 29 by a Ventura County grand jury on charges of murder and auto theft. He was accused of beating to death Rodolfo Macias, a popular 25-year-old busboy who lived in Newbury Park.

Macias, who worked at the Country Harvest restaurant in Newbury Park for four years, was described as a cheerful employee who never hesitated to compliment others and regularly sent portions of his salary to relatives in Mexico.

Urquidi had stayed at the Newbury Park home with Macias and five others on and off for up to three months before the May 25 killing, the defense attorney said.

Relatives told investigators that money and a wallet were stolen from Macias after the slaying, but Voigtsberger said robbery was not the motive for the attack. Before the murder, Macias and Urquidi had been arguing over a woman, he said.

Voigtsberger said Macias’ girlfriend had complained to Macias that Urquidi had “forced himself” on the woman. But the defense attorney said Macias misunderstood what his girlfriend meant and misinterpreted telephone calls and flirting between Urquidi and the woman.

“Apparently Rodolfo was accusing my client of having raped her, which did not occur,” Voigtsberger said. “There had been an argument earlier and (Urquidi) went back in for further confrontation and lost control.”

Investigators said Macias died from numerous blows to the head and body with a blunt object, which was later identified as a crowbar.

In court Tuesday, Urquidi admitted killing Macias and admitted to two special enhancements that will add two years to his sentence: that he used a deadly weapon in the slaying and that he had a prior conviction for forgery from 1991.

Voigtsberger was able to shield his client from the additional five years in prison he would have received because of the 1990 burglary conviction. Under the plea agreement, the judge will not consider that conviction at the time of sentencing.

In addition, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a charge of auto theft stemming from Urquidi allegedly driving away from the murder scene in Macias’ vehicle.

Urquidi was arrested June 14 in Los Angeles after investigators linked him to Macias’ stolen Chevy Blazer. The vehicle was found in a Glendale parking lot the day after the slaying, but investigators were unable to locate Urquidi until mid-June.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael K. Frawley said the plea Tuesday would spare Macias’ family the emotional experience of a trial.

“They didn’t want to come to court and relive it,” he said. “His brother found him in his room with his head bashed in.”

Macias’ niece, Aracely Macias of Los Angeles, said Tuesday that her family was pleased there would be no trial.

“Everybody’s very happy that the guy who murdered my uncle pleaded guilty,” she said. “I hope they give him prison for life.”

But Tuesday’s admission by Urquidi does not help erase the pain of Macias’ death, she said.

“We still miss him a lot,” said Aracely Macias. “It’s not the same without him here.”