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Gonzales Man Gets LifeIn Murder Guilty PleaAdvocate News ServiceCUERO — Linardo Villasana, 40, of Gonzales was sentenced to life in the penitentiary Monday after entering a plea of guilty to the murder with malice of Joe DeLeon, 27. DeLeon was shot in Westhoff last Sept. 18 and died two days later in Gonzales.Deputy Sheriff Willard Worthington of Cuero said he saw Villasana shoot DeLeon with a .22-caliber pistol at the American Legion Hall during a church out-ng.Worthington, who testified in 24th District Court after the jury had been waived, said the defendant was only about five feet away from DeLeon when the shots were fired. DeLeon, who died two days later in a Gonzales hospital, had made his home at School Land, near Nixon.Worthington said Villasanafired two shots, seemed to hesitate and then fired three more. In later testimony, the deputy sheriff said he heard Villasana “saying something about his gun jaming.”Worthington said he did not hear any words exchanged between the men before the shooting. He reported DeLeon had been sitting at a table before the shots were fired.According to Worthington, Villasana asked if he had killed DeLeon before being taken away from the scene. Worthington, who told Villasana he did not know, testified Villasana then said, “I intended to.”Prior to Monday, the defendant had been held in DeWitt County jail after being refused bond.Sentence was pronounced by Dist. Judge Joe Kelly of Victoria. In other district court action, Billy Richards of Bryanslt;oltotcC(01Olp.aiclt.fiaCJtcrrtcrrv,f(r;fiTd$:a:4?rlt;
Newspaper Details
Victoria Advocate
Victoria, Texas, US
Tue, Mar 14, 1967
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Patricia A.
USA 14 May 2018
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