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LAS CRUCES -- Third Judicial District Court Judge Fernando Macias sentenced a Barrio Azteca gang member to 21 years in prison for his armed robbery of a woman -- so that he could buy drugs, beer and lunch meat.
Joel Judus Leos, 28, will not be eligible for release for almost 18 years, according to the sentence, filed Monday.
Leos had just gotten off probation for a battery conviction when he broke into the victim's home late Sept. 12, 2009, in hopes of obtaining drug money, according to Deputy District Attorney Jacinto Palomino. After waking up the victim, Leos chased her with a knife into the bathroom, where he stabbed her in the chest multiple times in the bathtub before taking her purse, credit cards and cell phone. Surveillance video later showed Leos buying beer and lunch meat with the victim's cards, Palomino said.
Leos pleaded guilty to the charges in June, and admitted to being a habitual offender, which added a year to his sentence. Macias also ordered him to pay $15,646 in restitution to the victim.
