Bat-swinging robbers plead, get time served

Three Waynesboro men pleaded guilty Tuesday to robbing and beating a fourth man with a baseball bat, then walked free from jail on sentences of time served: about six months.

David Sanchez, 20; Isaias Rojas, 22; and Jose Sanchez-Aregin, 21, all formerly of North Commerce Avenue, pleaded guilty to robbery and misdemeanor assault and battery. Each initially faced a felony malicious wounding charge that was later reduced.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney James Camblos summarized the night’s events, closely following an account that victim Eduardo “Piku” Herrera, 36, relayed to The News Virginian after the Dec. 19 attack.

According to Herrera: The men stole a 12-pack of Natural Light from him near 260 N. Commerce Ave. When he tried to get it back, they attacked him with a baseball bat. A scramble ensued. Herrera threw a frying pan at one of his attackers.

Herrera was taken to Augusta Health in Fishersville, later walking home after midnight. He said race — he is Puerto Rican, the assailants are Mexican — may have fueled the fight. He had broken up a conflict earlier that night involving the men. Later, authorities sentenced Herrera to probation for retaliating against the men by taking a stereo from their apartment after their incarceration, police said.

In a Bob Marley T-shirt, jeans, brown boots and thin gold necklace, Herrera appeared in court Tuesday fully healed from the beating, which left cuts on his head, ear and ribs, and a hospital bill of $800.

Sanchez-Aregin shook his head throughout a retelling of the events by Camblos, but later made no statement.

The defendants, working with four interpreters and three defense attorneys, limited their responses to “culpable” when asked for pleas.

Judge Humes J. Franklin followed attorneys’ joint recommendation, sentencing each man to 12 months in jail, all suspended, for the assault, and five years in prison, with all but time served suspended, for the robbery.

In the time since the attack, and a stabbing in the same apartment, a new building owner has introduced an aggressive eviction mentality and code of conduct to improve safety at the building. Police respond to incidents there an average of two out of every three days, according to call records.