Sanchez Declines to Enter His Plea
A Simi Valley serial rapist accused of gunning down a female college student last year declined to enter a plea Monday to murder, kidnapping and attempted rape charges after defense lawyers objected to language in a felony complaint.
Ventura County prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for 31-year-old Vincent Sanchez, who is accused of killing 20-year-old Megan Barroso of Moorpark during a rape attempt last July.
On Monday, Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. Lela Henke-Dobroth filed a complaint charging Sanchez with first-degree murder, kidnapping, attempted rape and related allegations. Henke-Dobroth told Superior Court Judge Ken Riley the prosecution is ready to proceed to trial.
But Chief Deputy Public Defender Neil Quinn filed a motion objecting to wording in the complaint, and Sanchez’s scheduled arraignment was postponed. Quinn contends prosecutors improperly specified the degree of murder in the complaint.
“It is a very technical matter,” Quinn said.
But he told reporters it was necessary for the defense to object given the serious nature of the case and the potential penalty facing his client. A hearing on the issue was set for May 24.
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