A man who killed Bloomingburg resident Venancio Arquimides was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison Monday.
German Posados-Cruz, 49, who appeared in Fayette County Court of Common Pleas with his attorneys, Herman Carson and Susan Wollscheid, plead guilty to killing 42-year-old Arquimides after entering his apartment July 20 near Yatesville.
During Monday’s sentencing, Cruz said, “I want you to forgive me because it was not my intention to murder that person.”
Cruz’s son, German Posados-Hernenegildo, 22, was also indicted for Arquimides’ death and is facing life in prison for aggravated murder if convicted.
Kathryn Hapner and Thomas Arrington are co-counsel representing Hernenegildo’s case. A preliminary hearing was held earlier this month in the Washington C.H. Municipal Court.
Witnesses who lived in the same apartment building and Sgt. Ed Ward of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office gave testimony at the hearing. According to the testimony, Arquimides and Hernenegildo had a prior conflict, and according to one witness, Hernenegildo was the only person known to have a problem with Arquimides.
Photographs of evidence collected at the scene were presented by John Scott, Fayette County assistant prosecutor. Boot patterns in the blood on the carpet in Arquimides’ apartment allegedly matched boots owned by Hernenegildo.
But according to Hernenegildo’s attorney, Thomas J.C. Arrington, the boots have a popular tread pattern and Arrington says this is not direct evidence to link Hernenegildo to the murder.
John Scott, assistant Fayette County prosecutor, said, “This was a very heinous crime, the victim was beaten to death.”
Fayette County Common Pleas Court Judge Steven Beathard ordered Cruz to a mandatory 15 years in prison with the chance of parole after the mandatory sentence is served. Should he ever be released, he will subject to the Parole Board Jurisdiction and may remain on parole for the rest of his life.
Cruz was credited with 104 days jail time credit. He was transferred to the Corrections Reception Center in Orient, Ohio to commence his sentencing.
