Saturday, June 27, 2009
One of three men charged with capital murder in the August 2008 shooting death of a 21-year-old Waco man was sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday.
Larry Valn Waits, 20, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of robbery in a plea bargain with prosecutor Susan Shafer.
Waits, along with Steve Kelly, 19, and Keith Wayne Caufield, 20, were indicted by a McLennan County grand jury in December in the Aug. 23, 2008, shooting death of Robert Nevarez during an alleged robbery attempt.
Kelly pleaded guilty in April to a lesser charge of murder in exchange for a 40-year prison term. The capital murder charges against Caufield remain pending.
Shafer deferred comment after Waits’ sentencing until after Caufield’s case is completed. Waits’ attorney, Anthony Smith, of Temple, also declined comment.
Nevarez’s body was found about 4 a.m. in the 2500 block of Cole Avenue. He suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, authorities said. Nevarez was rushed to a local hospital, where he died.
As part of the plea bargain in Kelly’s case, prosecutors agreed not prosecute Kelly on retaliation charges for allegedly threatening several people who cooperated with police in the investigation into Nevarez’s death.
Authorities say Kelly fired the fatal shot, but the trio are alleged to have acted as parties during the robbery-slaying.
Waits will have to serve one-quarter of his prison term before he is eligible for parole.
twitherspoon@wacotrib.com
757-5737
Comments
By nbba
Jun 28, 2009 9:11 AM | Link to this
A life in Central Texas obviously isn't worth alot...and it seems that somehow, the arson of an old, worthless, ugly schoolhouse (with questionable historic significance) could rate a punishment nearing a sentence for the death of another.... Funny how the belongings of the wealthy seem to outweigh the very existance of the unwashed masses.
By Tralfaz
Jun 27, 2009 9:24 PM | Link to this
Well once again, the legal system rears it's ugly head. 30 years it says....he will be out in about seven. Another hood gets a LIFE sentence but we are told he is eligible for parole in 30 years. When are the law-abiding good people of this country finally going to have enough of this crap. 30 years should be 30 years. Life should be Life. Death should not be spending thirty years on death row only to keep appealing the sentence. Next election time citizens remember, get rid of the mamby pamby judges and district attorneys that keep letting this happen.
By James
Jun 27, 2009 6:59 PM | Link to this
These guys will be washing some underwear after the Mexicans down there at T.D.C. get through with them.
By D. Harris
Jun 27, 2009 3:28 PM | Link to this
I glad this case is coming to an end for all that is involved. My prayers goes out to the Robert Nevarez' Family. I would also like to say that Keith W. Caufield is a good and hard working young man who befriend the wrong people. His judgement put him at the wrong place at the wrong time. I hope justice can really be fair for this young man. To all the Families god bless you.
By wendell
Jun 27, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this
These are the kind of cases that need to be put in front of a jury!plea bargains are great for keeping the flow of cases going in our court system, but Muder Rape and other criams of these types should be brought before a jury everytime.
By mf
Jun 27, 2009 7:25 AM | Link to this
Oh great! What, 7-8 years and he gets to come out a commit another murder? Plea barganing....Lives are not worth much around here. Just as long as the DA's office gets that conviction! Morons.
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