Sanchez Expected to Admit to Some Crimes

A Simi Valley handyman accused of sexually assaulting 14 women and killing a 20-year-old college student is expected to plead guilty today to numerous charges--but his attorney refused to say whether he would admit to murder.

The anticipated pleas by 30-year-old Vincent Sanchez could bring an end to a serial rape case that stumped Simi Valley police for five years and expose Sanchez to multiple life prison terms.

But Sanchez may still be headed for trial, because he is expected to deny some charges.

“Mr. Sanchez intends to enter many guilty pleas as well as not guilty pleas and denials,” Chief Deputy Public Defender Neil Quinn told a judge Wednesday during Sanchez’s scheduled arraignment.

The pleas are not the result of any deals, Quinn said.

“This is not a plea agreement,” he said. “This is not a negotiation with the district attorney.”

Prosecutors requested a 24-hour postponement of the arraignment so they could review a list of Sanchez’s anticipated pleas.

Superior Court Judge Edward Brodie ordered Sanchez, who stood with his eyes fixed on the floor throughout Wednesday’s hearing, to return to court this afternoon.

Outside the courtroom, Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. Lela Henke-Dobroth told reporters she wanted time to look over Quinn’s list before going forward with the arraignment.

She also stressed that Sanchez has been offered no deals in exchange for his anticipated guilty pleas.

“The people are not interested in making any deal in this case whatsoever,” Henke-Dobroth said.

Sanchez is charged with 79 criminal counts, including murder, rape, burglary, carjacking, assault and kidnapping, as well as 143 related allegations.

According to the indictment, Sanchez raped seven women between September 1996 and July 2001 after breaking into their homes or kidnapping them.

Six of the rapes were done at knifepoint. One involved a gun.

Sanchez is accused of assaulting seven additional women during burglaries or attempted kidnappings.

But the most serious charge involves the shooting death of Moorpark College student Megan Barroso, who authorities allege was killed during an attempted rape.

Barroso’s bullet-riddled rental car was found with the engine running under a freeway overpass in the early morning hours of July 5. Her body was discovered a month later in a remote canyon near Simi Valley.

An autopsy revealed that Barroso was fatally shot in the abdomen. Sheriff’s officials say they have matched an assault weapon found in Sanchez’s home to the killing.

Outside the courthouse, Quinn would not comment on whether Sanchez will admit to Barroso’s killing.

He has previously said his client denies any role in her death.

“I don’t want to comment on the Barroso charges today,” Quinn said, adding that he hoped to speak with the Barroso family before today’s arraignment.

As for the remaining rape and assault charges, Quinn declined to specify which counts his client intends to admit.

But he said Sanchez knows he faces multiple life prison terms.

“It’s a big step,” Quinn said. “I’ve never been in a case where a defendant has been willing to essentially plead to life behind bars.”

Quinn said Sanchez wanted to admit guilt since his arrest two months ago.

Police arrested Sanchez in the serial-rape case after his housemates turned over trash bags containing videotapes, photos and women’s underwear that detectives linked to some of the attacks.

“From my very first involvement in this case, he has acknowledged his guilt,” Quinn said. “He has caused a lot of people a lot of pain.”