Second Life Sentence Given
Alirio Reyes, 27, was sentenced to life in prison for the May 16, 2004 murder of 17-year-old Herndon High School student Jose Sandoval.
Judge T.S. Ellis III sentenced Osmin Heriberto Alfaro-Fuentes to life in prison on Dec. 9 and Reyes last Friday, Dec. 16 in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. Reyes and Alfaro-Fuentes, MS-13 gang members, both pleaded guilty in September.
Sandoval and a female acquaintance, who The Connection is not identifying because prosecutors said she could be in danger, were walking on Park Avenue in Herndon on May 16, 2004. As Alfaro-Fuentes, 25, circled Sandoval and the female teenager on a bike, Reyes approached them, on foot, from the right. Alfaro-Fuentes lied to Sandoval, identifying himself as a member of the 18th Street gang. He goaded Sandoval, asking him if he was a member.
"What Jose did not know was the two defendants were not friends of the 18th Street gang, they were members of a rival gang," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Morris Parker during his opening arguments of the trial against Reyes in September.
Reyes stopped his trial after two days of testimony and pleaded guilty to murder in aid of racketeering activity.
Reyes shot Sandoval and the girl at close range with a .38-caliber handgun. Sandoval was pronounced dead at Reston Hospital. The girl, who was shot in the back, required surgery for a collapsed lung and was hospitalized for more than a week.
She was one of 55 witnesses prepared to testify against Reyes, including Alfaro-Fuentes, who told Herndon Police detectives in July 2004 that he was with Reyes the night of the shooting.
Reyes and Alfaro-Fuentes fled Herndon to Los Angeles after the murder, where they were assisted by other MS-13 gang members, according to court documents.
Members of the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested them at the Oasis Motel in Los Angeles on June 18, 2004.
Herndon Robbery
Two males, a 16-year-old and 17-year-old, were robbed last Sunday, Dec. 18. Around 4:10 p.m., two juveniles were walking in the area of Sunrise Valley Drive and Coppermine Road. The victims were approached from behind and the 16-year-old was struck in the upper body. The two victims turned to the suspect who was pointing a handgun at them. The suspect demanded and took personal items from the victims. The suspect fled on foot. The victims were not injured.
The suspect was described as a black male between the ages of 16 and 17. He was approximately 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighing around 200 pounds. He had short curly black hair, brown eyes and was wearing jeans and a black jacket with orange lining, according to the Fairfax County Police.
St. Timothy's Church
St. Timothy's Episcopal Church's Christmas Celebration Services schedule for December:
The Children's Christmas Celebration is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24, with the Family Christmas to follow at 7 p.m. At 10 p.m. will be the celebration with Holy Eucharist which will include a sing-a-long. The blessing of the toys is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 25 at 11 a.m. with Holy Eucharist.
Children’s Holiday Show
The Westfield High School Theatre Department is scheduled to present its annual children’s holiday extravaganza, The Ho-Ho Holiday Show Dec. 22 at 10 a.m. and noon at Westfield High School in Chantilly. The show is targeted to preschoolers and elementary school students and will include a Christmas carol sing-a-long and a visit from a special guest. Admission is $3 per person or five tickets for $10. For tickets, call 703-488-6439 or buy them at the door. Seats are general admission. For information about the show and directions, contact the Westfield Theatre Department at 703-488-6439 or visit www.westfieldtheatreboosters.com.
Town Calendar
Friday, Dec. 23
Town offices closed at noon
Herndon Community Center open, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve
Sunday, Dec. 25
Christmas Day
Chanukah Begins at sundown
Herndon Community Center Closed
Monday, Dec. 26
Town Offices Closed
Herndon Community Center open, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 27
Refuse collected