San Juan Capistrano Man Gets Life In Prison For 2011 Murder Of Neighbor
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities Friday said a San Juan Capistrano man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole along with eight additional years for the murder of his neighbor and the assault of a second victim in 2011.
The Orange County District Attorney's office said in a department statement that 36-year-old Robert Eugene Vasquez was found guilty of one count of murder with the special circumstance of lying in wait along with aggravated assault and a sentence enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon and causing great bodily injury.
The murder of Bobby Ray Rainwater, Jr. occurred on Dec. 1, 2011. According to the statement, Vasquez waited outside Rainwater's home and attacked him once he left, first by punching him in the back of the head and then by stabbing him multiple times, nearly to the point of decapitation.
Two days later, while at a friend's home, Vasquez struck Lance Lyons in the face with a metal object.
Although he attempted to flee, he was stopped by the victim's brother, authorities said.
That victim subsequently survived the attack, but sustained injuries to his nose and mouth.
Officials said Vasquez killed Rainwater because he was a registered sex offender, according to the statement.
